Time spent with teenagers is time well spent. Teens want and need your attention, just as much as smaller children. Research shows again and again that teens do not want your relationship with them to become distant. They just want it to change as they grow.¹ In one survey, teens said that "not having enough time together" with their parents was their biggest issue of concern.² Teens also said that they would prefer to spend extra time with their parents than doing anything else, and reported that spending time with their parents is one of their biggest priorities.^2,3

Spend some time alone with each of your teens. Try to set aside 15 minutes every day. Let them choose what you do together. Give them all your attention.

Show an interest in what your teen is doing. Go to their games, school functions, and performances. If you don't show up, they will be the first to notice.

Get to know your teens' friends.Take a group of teens to the movies, a game, the mall, or whatever. It shows your teens that they are important to you.

Make your home a place comfortable place. Make it a place where your teens and their friends feel they can hang out. Keep food in the house for them.

Look for opportunities to do something special together.They will feel that they are special to you. When tough issues come up, you will already have a trusting relationship.

Find ways to get close to your teen in every day activities. Do chores together. Cook a meal together. Exercise or take a walk together.

Eat meals together as a family. Eat together as often as you can. Turn off the TV. Try not to argue or bring up difficult subjects. Just talk and enjoy the time together.

Take a few minutes to talk with your teen at bedtime. Sit on their bed and talk about the day. It's a chance to catch up. It may be a time when they feel like talking.

Looking for simple things to do with your teen?

Go for a walk
Cook a special meal
Play a game
Share a book or a news story
Work on a project
Browse the Internet
Exercise Listen to music - try sharing your favorite CDs with each other
Bring your teen to work
Go to lunch; make it a regular date
Go to the mall
Go to the library
Go to a museum
Do chores together
Watch a movie and talk about it
Volunteer in the community
Go to a game, performance, or event
Go for a drive; take your teen somewhere special to you when you were a teen
Take a class - like cooking or martial arts
Go for a bike ride
Ask your teen what s/he wants to do and try it - even if it doesn't sound very fun to you
Just sit and talk