Don't leave teens alone

Not if you play your cards right.

It's self explanatory, still let me explain.

As parents it is tempting to ignore your children for hours on end. Maybe there is some dinner party you're getting ready for and it will take hours of your time. Maybe you're watching the footy. Maybe you're binge watching a tele series. Maybe you're in desperate need of an electronic babysitter.

We've all been there, multiple times.

Anyone with teens will also know they spend an exorbitant amount of time alone in their bedroom. Sometimes locking themselves in their rooms. Often being testy if you dare enter their lair. "Get out!" How often have you heard that? Or the infamous groan... like you're interrupting some uber important life moment.

It can be tempting to set and forget and barely or rarely spend anytime with them, barely have conversations with your teen. Yet teens go through so many ups and downs and hard to navigate moments.

Do I ask that person out? Do they like me? How will I know? Why do I feel so moody? Why do my joints ache all the time? How do I get rid of these pimples? 
There is also depression, suicide, bullying, hard making friends, worried about being liked. If you don't discuss these things they can fester and become bigger issues. The plus is it leaves them feeling loved and hugs create good feelings in their mind and body.

They feel a lot of different emotions and if left to their own devices they will try to deal with these issues by themselves. It's easy to think they talk to their friends about everything, yet there is bound to be issues they don't raise with anyone.

You don't need to know everything that's on their mind. Let them share what they feel comfortable telling you, while keeping the lines of communication open. And that is the main point. If you shut down those lines of communication they will follow your lead and clam up. Leaving them alone in their room for long periods without conversation can cause conversation to become stunted; hard to find opening lines and keep the conversation flowing.

Enter their room on occasion. How are they? Did they have a good day? Do they need anything, a drink? Do they have any dirty washing? Dinner is ready.

Get them out of their rooms by giving them tasks. Saturday morning chores; can you please put your dirty washing in the laundry; please empty the dishwasher; set the table. Set up Friday night family movie night. Give them one night on electronics one night off (if you're not already limiting their gaming hours), or a compulsory electronic free day.

Hug them when they come home from school, it might pay to ask first becomes teens really HATE being hugged, especially if they're feeling mentally overwhelmed. Some times I say I need a hug and I'll get a nice squishy hug. Enquire about their day even if you get a grunt.

Randomly tell them you love them, even if you get a grunt.

I'm predominantly talking about introverted teens here because they can really shut themselves away from the world, although this does apply to all teens. Yet more so with introverted teens.

The world and life is interactive. It is important to learn how to navigate this and it is the job of the parent to teach them these things.

Do yo have an introverted teen or an extroverted teen? How do you handle their aloofness? 

How do you deal with interacting with them?