The teenage era of any person is the most sensitive, main, challenging and promising period. Now the major role in nourishing this phase is mainly dependent on one major thing which is how their parents treat them. However, parenting teens is not an easy job to do as there are many ups and downs. Teenage years are those in which there is a huge amount of character development, physical changes, emotional changes, ideology and the point of view to see everything.

Now how parents should connect with their teens just like they were warmth before those teens were little kids, now that parenting should evolve and transform with those elements which are their needs in terms of guidance they want, open communication bridge, very positive parenting is required over there. 

The Current Status of Teen Well-being in Australia: 

In Australia, there is a major lack in the well-being of teenagers which is a major concern as the numbers are growing. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), mental health issues among young Australians have increased significantly in recent years. In 2020, it was reported that about 15% of Australian teenagers aged 12-17 experienced high or very high levels of psychological disorders. Additionally, one in seven young Australians aged 4-17 were estimated to have a mental health disorder. 

With these kinds of challenges, the value of effective, positive parenting in such a sensitive moment of life becomes very important. At the end of the day if the teens are getting the desired effectiveness from their parents they can surely enjoy their growing age.

What Is Positive Parenting?

Positive raising or parenting is a whole set of nourishment that is given by the parents to their children. It is based on elements just as respect, communication bridge, and encouragement. It is important that rather than focus on a Positive approach, some parents tend to choose a very harsh and hard way towards their children just as punishing them, not talking to them, and giving them no value, so if you want to communicate effectively with your children there should be a strong bond which is based entirely on trusting relationships between parents and their children. 

Key elements of positive parenting include: 

• Effective Communication: Encourage your teens to speak in front of you, respect their ideas, fix their thoughts, and boost them with communication..
• Positive Reinforcement: Praise and reward them, appreciate their efforts and achievements and focus on the successes rather than focusing entirely on the mistakes.
• Impactful behaviour: establish that kind of behaviour towards them which is really impactful in terms of growing their minds and character development, giving them responsibilities. 
• Emotional Support: emotional support is the most important element in parenting as it holds many sensitive aspects just like emotions, a free space that lets them express themselves in a safe place. 
• Independence: Allowing teens to make their own decisions, make mistakes, and learn from them while being a supportive guide.

The companionship between teenagers and parents: 

One of the most important pillars of positive parenting is building a base of trust with your teenager. Trust plays an important role in providing a safe space for teenagers to express themselves openly and in their best comfort zone. In order to attain this, parents need to engage in and follow the guidelines of honest communication with their children. Instead of giving harsh and immediate negative responses to your teens, it is very important to let them finish and in any case, parents have to give harsh reactions. 

They should be polite in that, and how is it possible? 

When parents will actually listen and understand what their children are saying (active communication). For instance, if your teen is upset about school work and they are venting outraging their emotions in front of you then you as a parent should empathize instead of immediately reacting to your teen’s behaviours or decisions, it’s important to practice active listening. 

This involves giving them your full attention, validating their feelings, and showing empathy. Creating a space where they can feel the importance, zero judgements and honest reviews is the main focus. Parents should be transparent with their children by telling them their life experiences and stories, this activity also boosts the trust and active communication bridge between children and their parents. 

Borderline and Independence: 

As the growing age starts teens push for more independence, and parents may feel a sign of red flags on how much freedom they want. Now the best way to tackle this obstacle is to create a balance in their independence and boundaries which will create a sense of understanding and responsibility in teens. This balance is very important for teens for decision-making skills as well.

Making and setting the boundaries is one way to hold this balance. Teens should be aware of every aspect of consequences which can be positive and negative. For instance, if your teen wants to go to a party then instead of forbidding it, have a detailed conversation about your concerns such as safety and substance use. 

This can include setting a lockdown time for the teens to come back home, ensuring their safety at any cost or checking in during the evening. By involving teens in the rule-making process, you not only reinforce boundaries but also empower them to take ownership of their choices. This approach encourages them to think critically about their actions and make decisions that align with both their desires and family values.

Importance of Emotional Health: 

As we have witnessed above the reports of mental health concerns in Australia, catering to emotional well-being is a critical part of positive parenting. This can create a strong sense of emotional intelligence in teens, the ability to understand and then control their emotions. The term “empathy” is very important in parenting, this activity involves parents expressing themselves and showing empathy towards their teens’ emotional experiences. 

When teens see their parents undergoing the same domain they feel more confident to tackle that situation by adopting similar strategies Good parenting also involves regular checking on their teens and getting the current status of their life and emotional state, rather than waiting for their teen to arise a problem it’s way too good to pre-identify the problem by asking them about everything happenings in their daily lives and create a concept that it’s okay to ask for help whether it’s talking to parents, teachers, or friends. 

Problem-Solving 

Praising your teen’s achievements, matter big or small is a positive element of effective parenting. Positive reinforcement motivates teens to continue making good choices, boosting their confidence. For instance, if your teen is up to taking more responsibilities at home and at the same time he’s creating good results everywhere then it is the best time to praise him, can be a simple sentence to boost their level just like “I’m proud of your hard work in the past days” this simple sentence will store a special place in the heart of your teen and he will fulfil the tasks more effectively. 

When it is about identifying the challenges and conflicts, positive parenting mainly focuses on the solving method of the problem rather than giving any sort of punishment. Instead of choosing the hard way parents should sit down with their teens and discuss the problem where they were facing the difficulties and how to manage those lacks in future, this effective approach teaches accountability in teens while showing a simple message that you are here to help and guide them through their mistakes. 

Role of Telehealth

Telehealth provides access to primary medical care, especially for parents in remote areas. With access to after-hour GP, working parents get immense support, as all the initial medical advice and services, like medical certificates, online prescriptions and specialist/ pathology referrals are just a few clicks away. Telehealth is a positive step to assist parents and provide mental health support while retaining their privacy as well. These solutions are not just convenient but also cost-effective. 

Conclusion: Role of Telehealth To Support Parents And Guardians

Positive parenting is not about getting rid of any sort of misconception between teens and their parents but it’s more like creating a strong bond which includes the main elements of trust, frankness, respect, and mutual understanding. Communication opens doors and clears the foggy path in this relation allowing teens to express themselves more in front of their parents. These years of life are full of growth opportunities not only for adolescents but for parents as well.

As you experience this phase together, positive parenting gives you the strength to nurture your teens’ independence by giving them support. They want, to help them develop into responsible and to become the best version of themselves, resilient young adults. With Doctor Help, parents get immense support with the convenience of their home, if you also want to book a consultation online click here.