Parenting Programs

Love Me and Leave Me Alone

Managing the Teen Experience

Adolescence can be a particularly sensitive and challenging time for teens and parents, who often struggle with finding the right balance between freedom and supervision. As teens must become increasingly entrusted with making choices and important decisions, parents do the difficult task of relinquishing control. The Teen series explores key aspects of adolescent development and communication, and the impact of body image and risk taking on identity development, in order to help give parents information and strategies to guide their teen through these potentially tumultuous years.

Session One

Teen Development: who is this young adult?

Teens often attempt to act like adults while still behaving like children. They can be considered a “work in progress” because they are still trying to develop who they are. In this session, parents will link challenging behaviors to specific developmental tasks and learn ways to support teen development while minimizing difficult behavior.

Session Two

let's talk: CommunicatinG with Teens

Communication is essential to maintain a close and healthy relationship between teens and their parents, and offers parents the ability to influence the choices and decisions teens make as their independence increases. In this session, parents will learn how the new skills teens are developing can increase the quality of conversations between parent and child and how to manage the challenges. In addition, parents will explore parenting styles to determine what practices best support a teen’s growing independence.

Session Three

developing a healthy Body Image in teens

Positive body image is important for healthy growth and development in boys and girls and is associated with better physical and emotional health. Parents will identify influences that impact body image development and how to recognize healthy body image and body image concerns. Also, parents will learn how to prepare for difficult discussions involving eating habits, weight concerns, and other harmful behaviors linked to body image.

Session Four

tough times: parenting teens who take Ri sks

Adolescent risk taking can be both positive and dangerous. Some adolescent risk behaviors are healthy and help teens grow by allowing them to try new things and test their abilities. However, other risk behaviors cause concern. In this session, parents will be able to understand the differences between risk taking behavior and high risk behavior. Also, parent-adolescent communication will be highlighted and how it can positively influence how teens make high risk choices.