Make Time for Teens, Young Adolescents |
Make Time -- Don't Mark Time
with your young adolescent
Is your family time-starved? Are you always trying to get things done when the reality is that one is never done? Over and over again, young adolescents say that what they would really like is more time with their parents, not more things in their lives. Here are several easy-to-implement tips that will give you more time to spend with your young adolescent.
- Less is more. Do less. On the weekends don't make each day a 24 hour marathon. Plan to accomplish one thing - do the laundry, buy the groceries or clean the apartment - and plan on some time for the entire family to do something together.
- Don't divide to conquer. While it may be more efficient for dad to go to the grocery store while mom washes the car, and the kids do homework, that means that no one is working together. If Suzy goes to the store with her parent, she will not only be helping and making a contribution to the family, but will miss out on an opportunity to spend essential time with that parent.
- NO, NO, NO. Say yes only to those requests that you genuinely want to do. Remember that your young adolescent is wathing you to see how you respond to multiple requests and allocate your time. Ask yourself, "If I get involved in this project, how will it impact my family?"
- Yes, Yes, Yes. Say yes to those activities that model the kind of involvement you want your young adolescent to emulate, and get them involved as well. Turn off the TV on weekends so you can just sit around and play a game and talk.
Contributed courtesy of the National Middle School Association
