Teaching kids how to talk about their feelings is one of a parent’s most complex jobs. It’s important to know how they’re feeling so they can learn to handle and work through emotions. Asking the right questions is a great place to start — it gets them talking and can help them learn a lot about themselves in the process.
Asking generic questions like “How was your day?” gives your teen an out. They can say fine and be done with the conversation, even though they just endured a whole school day’s worth of experiences that are probably worth talking about.
Instead of asking this, try these alternatives:
These questions are open-ended and force them to think for more than a few seconds. They can dig deep and process their day, plus you’ll have opportunities to look for red flags that might need to be addressed.
Getting your teen to open up benefits you just as much as them. Teens often struggle internally, so bringing emotions outside can help them talk through them, process them, and learn how to handle them in a healthy way. Plus, it keeps the lines of communication open between you so you can help them when needed.
For more insights on youth behavioral health, read our Hallmark Youthcare blog.
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