Teenage is certainly the most important phase in one’s life. Rachna Khanna Singh, a psychologist at Artemis Hospital and a well-known lifestyle management expert, believes that parents should be sensitive to the behavioral changes that occur in teens.

Teenage usually gives rise to conflicts between parents and kids, sparked by the reemergence of latent sexual impulses as the child reaches puberty. The phase is characterized by various changes that ultimately lead to the formation of an individual identity. It is the transitional stage of physical and psychological development, the reason why teens need a lot of love and support from parents at this time. Kids must be given the freedom to explore with their peers to consolidate their identity during teenage.

Various studies have shown that adolescents are often misunderstood during this stage. They tend to handle rejection poorly, and resort to self-harm in situations of distress.

Positive attention is a must for nurturing your teens and encouraging responsible behavior, states psychologists at Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon. The most effective parenting strategy with teens is to spend time with them to show that you care. Parents should not assume that their child knows how much they love him/her. Eating one meal of the day together is a great way of connecting and bonding with your children.

However, it is important to ensure that unconditional love doesn't mean unconditional approval. It is equally important to discipline your child using desirable parenting techniques. Imposing too many restrictions and punishments will only drive away your child and make it less likely that you’re aware about what's going on in his/her life. Parents are advised to discipline their child by assuring that they won't withdraw their love, based on the mistakes committed by the child.

Being the role model for their children, parents set the code of conduct for them. Their behavior sets an example for the children. As a matter of fact, teenagers tend to live up or down to parental expectations. Thus, keeping expectations high always works, especially during this phase. But instead of focusing only on the achievements, Artemis Hospital counselors emphasize on the need of inculcating moral values in your child. Rather than setting the achievement bar for your child, it is better to let him/her determine what he/she can handle. Parents should be supportive and encourage their child to retry after every failed attempt.

Keeping in mind the importance of adolescent phase, it becomes important to pay complete attention to your child during this stage, as it is easier to build stronger children than to mend broken adults.