Don’t Be Afraid to Argue

We get it: most people dread arguments. But think about it this way––would you rather have your teen fighting with you, shouting out their opinion, or freezing you out? Arguments can be productive if they’re helping you understand your child better, especially when you see that they’re ready to expand their boundaries because they’ve demonstrated responsibility and made a good argument. Make your verbal wrestling productive by guiding your teen towards reasonable negotiation. This means you need to keep an open mind and let them earn a win, which will actually be a win for you, too, when arguments diminish.

Click here for another 100-word parenting tip.