Tone Matters

Teens are amazing at listening between the lines. Our tone matters just as much as the words said. Avoiding angry body language stops your teen from going on the defensive. Explain how you feel rather than point out what they did or didn’t do so your teen understands where you’re coming from. It’s okay—in fact, better than okay—to not talk when you’re not calm. Yelling or overreacting also has a way of closing down the conversation. So take a deep breath or take a walk, and then return with a relaxed tone so you can have a productive conversation.

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