If you are parenting a teen, you’ll probably have noticed several changes and emotions in your teen you haven’t experienced before.  It’s not unusual for many teens go through bouts of pouting fits, screaming rages and even total isolation from family.

This can be due to hormonal and emotional changes as well as a cry for independence.  It’s important to give your teen a certain amount of privacy during this period.

Here are some reasons why every teen needs their privacy:

1. Privacy builds trust – Giving your teen his privacy can help build trust. It will show your teen that you trust him enough to give him some space. Privacy will allow your teen to prove to you that he can be trusted without your watchful eye over him all the time.

2. Privacy helps your teen make responsible choices – If you are constantly watching every move your teen makes, how can she learn to make responsible choices? Guide her in the right direction, then step back and give her the privacy she requests. Trust her to make wise choices.

3. Privacy builds respect – Giving your teen privacy can help build mutual respect. When your teen sees that you respect her enough to give her some privacy, she will work harder to build that bond of trust with you so that she doesn’t lose that privacy.

4. Privacy allows for mistakes – Nobody is perfect, so don’t expect your teen to be. If you give your teen his privacy and he messes up don’t question his judgement or point out his failure. Help him pick up the pieces of his mistake and move forward. Talk about the mistake, and how other choices may have prevented the mistake from happening. Encourage him to try again.

5. Finally, although your teen does need a certain amount of privacy its worth to point out that it’s also important for your teen to be involved with the rest of the family.  You don’t want to completely let your teen isolate himself from the family, instead try to keep the lines of communication open by inviting your teen out on a special date for some parent and teen bonding time or simply try to catch him at a good time and have a light hearted chat. 

Like all parenting, giving your teen his privacy can be a balance act and it’s important to strike the right balance.

Many teens suffer through the pain of never feeling good enough. They face pressure to fit into a crowd among their peers. Feelings of inadequacy are the norm for teens, as they are many times unsure of themselves.

Use these tips to help build your teen’s confidence:

1. Encourage mental and social growth. Involve your teen in academic clubs and after school activities in which she’s interested. Look at every extracurricular activity as a way for your teen to learn and grow. Nurture your teen’s strengths and help her develop expertise in the areas where she is most knowledgeable.

2. Be aware. Teens rarely like to ask for help, even when they need it most. Pay attention to how your teen reacts or ways they respond. If you think your teen needs help but is too afraid or embarrassed to ask for it, offer it to them without question. Be a concerned parent and trust your intuition.

3. Build trust. One of the worst things a parent can do is to interfere and overreact to any given situation with a teenager. Create an open-door policy. Let your teen know that you are always there for them to talk to about anything. Build a path of trust from you to your teen and from your teen to you.

4. Listen with a closed mouth and open heart. If your teen trusts you enough to talk to you about personal matters, feel honored. Be available to listen to your teen; be cautious not to jump to conclusions. Instead, allow your teen the opportunity to speak from their heart. This not only facilitates open communication, but builds trust between you and your teen as well.

Above all, be understanding and forgiving. Everyone makes mistakes. Keep in mind that teen years are difficult at best. Be slow to pass judgment and blame. Give your teen the chance to talk to you, to explain his position. When your teenager is low in spirits or feeling bad about himself, give him an extra boost of confidence.