Starting a Conversation with Your Teen, Part 1

Realize that every conversation with your teen is a chance to guide them. So talk early and often. Open up conversations — big and small — before the teen years so you can build communication momentum, strengthen your relationship , show yourself to be a reliable (and dependable) resource, and figure out the best location to keep the words flowing. Even more important, keep them guessing a little about what you’ll say by being flexible and open-minded. When you show that you haven’t made up your mind on everything, you leave the door open for teens to weigh in, too.

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