Why Your Child Needs You

 Adolescence can be a difficult time – your child is going through rapid physical changes as well as emotional ups and downs. Young people aren’t always sure where they fit, and they’re still trying to work it out. Adolescence can also be a time when peer influences and relationships can cause you and your child some stress.

Supporting each other can be vital to getting through these challenges.

During this time your family is still a secure emotional base where your child feels loved and accepted, no matter what’s going on in the rest of his life. Your family can build and support your child’s confidence, self-belief, optimism and identity.

When your family sets rules, boundaries and standards of behaviour, you give your child a sense of consistency and predictability.

And believe it or not, your life experiences and knowledge can be really useful to your child – she just might not always want you to know that!

Supportive and close family relationships protect your child from risky behaviour like alcohol and other drug use, and problems like depression. Your support and interest in what your child is doing at school can boost his desire to do well academically too.

Strong family relationships can go a long way towards helping your child grow into a well-adjusted, considerate and caring adult.

Knowing what your child is doing and being available to her can mean fewer teenage behaviour problems. Being available could be as simple as just being in the kitchen when your child is in her room, so she knows she can talk to you if she wants to. Teenagers benefit from knowing that support is available, even though they might not be using it.