Only 48% of parents rate their relationship with their teenager as “excellent”, recent data from Gallup reveals. Past research has also found that teens who have strong relationships with their parents have better mental health.
For many families, an emphasis on traditional values plays an important role in the creation of healthier, happier teens, particularly in the face of unhealthy modern influences like technology addiction and consumerism. So, teach your teen gratitude, celebrate birthday milestones, and schedule family time, and you’ll find it easier to balance tradition with modern life, and raise a happier, well-rounded teen.
Teach your teen gratitude
Teens today grow up in a culture of instant gratification, which tends to breed entitlement and a lack of personal responsibility. Grateful teens, on the other hand, have been found to be happier in all aspects of their lives and have higher GPAs compared to ungrateful teens. They’re also more engaged with hobbies, more hopeful, and less depressed, materialistic, and jealous.
So, teach your teen how to be grateful and give back. For example, regularly volunteer at a local food bank together as a family. This teaches empathy and encourages your teen to be grateful for what they have.
Celebrate traditional milestones
Also, celebrate special birthdays to mark important coming-of-age milestones in your teen’s life. This is usually an opportunity to throw a big party, and spoil your teen with special presents — and what teen doesn’t love presents? For example, in the U.S., Sweet Sixteen celebrations have marked a girl’s transition into womanhood for hundreds of years.
Similarly, Quinceañera, an important event in Mexican culture, celebrates a girl’s 15th birthday. Both these events are also large family affairs, and a great chance for everyone to bond and make memories together.
Your daughter’s dress will also be a huge consideration. Dresses for these events tend to be elaborate and formal ball gowns, so the birthday girl looks and feels like a Disney Princess. And, FYI, boys can totally celebrate these milestones, too. But, these events are typically just called “16th birthday celebration” or “Quinceañero”, the masculine version of Quinceañera.
Schedule family time (and limit friend time)
Teens become more invested in friendships once they turn thirteen or fourteen. Friendships are important for happiness and self-esteem, but they shouldn’t be prioritized over family relationships. In fact, research from Columbia University shows that teens who eat dinner with their families regularly are less likely to smoke, drink, and do drugs.
If you think your teen is off with their friends too often, encourage family activities for you to do. If possible, don’t force the issue, or else you’ll cause conflict and resentment. Rather, casually explain you think it would be fun to do something together, and let your teen choose the activity, so they’re more likely to look forward to and enjoy your bonding session.
Traditional values can shape happier, healthier teens in spite of modern challenges. Emphasize the importance of gratefulness, milestone birthdays, and family time, and you’ll develop a stronger relationship with your teen and help them develop into a kind, well-rounded adult.
Also read:
How to Help My Young Adult Teen Thrive
How Exercise Improve Mental Health
Image source: Pexels, Polina Tankilevitch
