All through elementary and middle school, your child has been asked “What do you want to be when you grow up? Then in high school the
question changed to “What are you going to do when you graduate? Whether asked by teachers, parents, sibling or friends, has your child been able to give an answer?

Your child may still be trying to figure out who he or she is and what he or she wants to be, and that’s okay.

Let me share three problems teenagers commonly encounter while making decisions and how you can help.

* They don’t realize. Many teenagers just go with the flow and never make choices for themselves because they don’t realize they have control over their lives. Beginning at a young age, allow your child to make decisions. Your advice is valuable but your child needs to practice making choices while he or she is in the safety of your home.
* They don’t understand. Teenagers think they know it all but in reality most are naïve. They do not understand the complexities of life and once in the real world, can find it difficult to achieve success. Instead of protecting your child from problems, take the time to share some of your trials.

This will teach your child that life is not a bed of roses and provide evidence that even thorns can be conquered.
* They lack self-confidence. Confidence and self-esteem are big problems for teenagers. They may talk a good game but they don’t always believe what they say. To help your child believe in his or her capabilities you must give him or her opportunities to succeed before your child graduates and leaves home. That is only possible if you loosen your grip and let them do it. Whatever ‘it’ may be, within reason, of course.

So let’s take a minute to think this through. For teenagers, the future is basically a blank canvas. That means they still have the freedom to design the life they want to live. You need to resist the urge to pick and choose what your child will do and be. Let your teenager decide for themselves.

Don’t limit your child’s vision by the blinders on your eyes. Your child can be anything they want to be and it is your job to make sure they know that. If she wants to be an engineer, that is certainly possible. Does he want to be an entrepreneur? Well, he can do that too. Help your child achieve his or her dreams by first creating a written plan to make it happen.

Along the way, your child may stumble or even fail. You need to be there to help your child stand up and continue his or her journey.

Remember, you child is the designer of their life.

You should effectively and openly communicate with your teenage child. Effective communication helps you to understand your child better and avoid confusion and misunderstanding. Break the ice with your child by talking on topics of his/her interest like friends, movies, music or any other. Be your child’s best friend. This helps you in knowing what is happening in your teen’s life. Remain updated about your teen’s friends, interests, studies and other activities.

Enjoy some common interests together is necessary that you spend quality time with your child. You can play outdoor games with your child, play games online or you can go for movies together. The idea is to have family time together and thus ensure great bonding. Children, who have family support and love, grow up to be secure and happy.

At this stage of life, children are confused and rebellious. You should understand them. You should remain calm and patient. At times there may be difference of opinion. You should make your children feel responsible. Let them take their own decisions and also the responsibility of the consequences of their decisions. However, you should be there to advice and support them when they require you.

You should understand that your child is nearly a grownup. Your teen should learn the basics of finance and handle responsibilities well. During holidays and spare time, encourage him/her to take up a part time job. This also gives them an insight to the outside world and also makes them understand the value of money. Summer jobs also help your teen to identify their interests, which in turn helps in taking better career decisions.

Most teenage children pretend to be grownup and independent but they nurse a desire to be loved by their parents. Give unconditional love to your teen and help him/her to become a good and loving person. Though you will get lot of parenting advice from others but as a parent you would already know what is best for your child. The key to maintaining a healthy relationship with your children lies in giving them love and lots of time.