Do you find that you struggle to connect with your parents lately? Being a teenager can bring a world of changes to your life. Including finding that it’s not as easy as it once was to speak with, connect with, and confide in your parents.

You may find that you’re getting frustrated with your parents and having difficulty showing them that you’re no longer a little kid. It may be hard to believe but your parents are also struggling with the change in your relationship with them.

Parents want to communicate with their teens, and they do want to show them that they care and will be there to provide the necessary support. Sometimes, however, it’s up to you, the teenager, to take the first step and open up.

Just how can you do this? How can you relearn how to get along with your parents and have fun together? We’ve got a few tips.

Taking the first step

Believe it or not, your parents don’t have all of the answers. They may not know how to best reconnect with you. They may be waiting for you to take that first step and reach out to them. There are a few ways that you can do this:

• Start simple conversations. Asking them about their day, as an example. This can lead to a great chat about how their day went while also allowing you to discuss your day with them.
• Ask if you can go grocery shopping and cook dinner together. This can give you and your parents time together, without other distractions. You can prep meals and cook while having casual or even deep conversations.
• Offer to help with more household chores. For example, if your mom is raking up leaves, this is a great chance to hold the bags open and have a great conversation.
• Go for a walk or a drive along a scenic route. It’s not about what you do but about the fact that you’re doing it together.
• Watch a movie together or a new television show that interests you both. Family movie nights are always a great way to spend time together.

Think of other little ways to reach out to your parents and connect with them. Even just texting them funny things you see online can be a fun way to establish a good relationship.

Finding common ground

Does it feel like you have absolutely nothing in common with your parents? This could very well be the case. Sometimes we just grow up with entirely different interests, ideals, and passions than what our family has. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. There are other ways that you can find to connect with your parents.

Some of the common ground that you may find you share with your parents could include the following:

• Music
• Art
• Books
• Gardening
• Car shows
• Movies and television shows
• Sports
• Outdoor activities
• Cooking and baking
• Games like Dungeons and Dragons
• Video games
• Other creative pursuits

If you have a parent who is interested in painting, perhaps you could ask to join in one day. It’s not about what you paint, of course. It’s about spending time together and connecting with your parent over something they are passionate about. Spending time with your parents is about connection. This can lead to conversations about things that you love.

Trying something new together

Whether you have shared interests with your parents or not, it’s always a great idea to try something new. You could suggest new activities you could try out with just one parent, both parents, and even your siblings. These activities are not just an opportunity for you to get along with your parents but can work as a great way for you to connect and reconnect with every family member.

What are a few things that you could try together?

Has your family gone bowling before? If not, bowling can be a wonderful way to connect, be loud, and engage in a bit of fun competition. You could also play a round of miniature golf together in the same spirit of fun and competitiveness. Both of these activity ideas are simply fun for all ages and for every member of the family.

Has your family gone camping before? The great outdoors may not be your idea of fun, and your parents may prefer the idea of a hotel versus sleeping out under the stars. If camping at a nearby lake or park doesn’t sound like fun, perhaps a night in your backyard could work.

You could even just suggest food cooked on the grill, conversations around the fire pit, or roasting marshmallows while listening to music. The idea is to engage with your parents in a setting that takes you all away from the distraction of other people and electronics.

If electronics do play a significant role in your lives, perhaps there is a video game that allows for multi-players. Exploring a game that’s new to all of you can be fun as you learn to navigate it together.

Do you know how to roller skate, ice skate, or rollerblade? It could be that your parents already know and would love to spend time teaching you while enjoying time outdoors. Or you could take lessons together, laugh as you each take turns falling down, but spend quality time together.

Be patient with your parents as you all learn to navigate this new phase of life together. Keep the lines of communication open and the conversation flowing, even if it’s about simple, fun things. It will feel much easier to lean into your parents for support when you need it the most if you’ve already established that comfortable relationship with them.

Quite often, teens feel alone and struggle to connect with anyone when things seem at their worst. Parents can offer a refuge from the storm of outside influences and offer comfort, companionship, and even possible solutions you hadn’t yet thought of.

Teens struggling to connect with parents may find benefits in the resources that HelpYourTeenNow can offer. Whether families need help to connect with therapists, peer support groups, or more intensive therapeutic solutions, HelpYourTeenNow can provide guidance.