Parents often ask me, “How on earth can I get my teen to open up?”

Believe me, it is possible to get your teen talking, but you need a smart strategy to make it happen!

Why don’t you give this a try? Choose something that your teen likes to do, whether it’s taking pictures or skateboarding. Even if all you can do is stand on the side and video his tricks and stunts —hey, at least you’re doing it together.

Then, just be silent! Don’t try to force a conversation. Most teens find silence to be awkward, so to make things feel more comfortable, they feel obligated to start talking.

So the next time you want to get your teen to open up to you, go out and do something together and start listening!

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