5 Tips For Dealing With Defiant Teens

Many parents have a difficult time knowing what to do with their defiant teens. Sometimes it might seem like all of your efforts are worthless, and attempts at understanding only lead to greater conflict and distrust. Indeed, miscommunication and tension between parents and teens can send young people further down the wrong path. However, conscientious attempts by adults to subtly change the aggressive nature of a household and a relationship can trigger greater empathy between parent and child and lead to long-lasting improvements in a teen’s behavior.

For your consideration, Huff/Post50 presents our suggestions on 5 tips for dealing with a defiant teen:

Root Cause

• • • • • Trying to find out the root cause behind a defiant teen's rebellion is a great step in a positive direction. Your teen may be having problems with a friend, a girlfriend/boyfriend or a teacher and misdirecting their emotions at you. Try talking with them about what could be causing the behavior.

Comments

[MegaMomSC]

11:28 AM on 12/06/2011

I have always kept an open dialogue with my son. I see when he is getting frustrated, worried, etc. before any kind of defiance even begins to develop. And we talk. If he doesn't want to talk to me, then he will usually talk to his stepfather. I watched my brother raise two very defiant, rebellious children who grew into almost worthless adults (I am talking welfare, jobless, etc.). He beat them. threatened them, kicked them out. The result? drugs, alcohol, smoking, and sex. I haven't had ANY of these issues. My son is an honors/AP student. He doesn't ask for much. He saves his allowance, gifts from his grandmother, etc. to get what he wants. I cannot guarantee he will not turn into a hellion tomorrow. But as of today, he is just a great kid.

[J R M]

12:06 AM on 10/31/2011

I wasn't a defiant teen. I was not stupid enough to defy my parents.

I made sure that I didn't get caught at the activities that they would not have approved of.