Vital Parenting Series
7 Vital Parenting Skills for Understanding Teenagers and Communicating with Teens
By Frank Dixon
Proven parenting tips for developing healthy relationships with teens and reducing teen anxiety
Frank Dixon gives parents of teenagers proven methods to help their son or daughter grow from a child into a well-adjusted, confident young adult. Being a teen in today’s always-connected world is harder than ever, and this book shows you how to guide them through it.
Paperback, hardcover and audiobook editions available on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- How to set a positive example for your teenager
- Understand why your teenager does what they do
- Positive parenting skills for communicating your values and expectations
- How to set realistic expectations
- How to choose which battles to have with your teen
- Give your teenager some independence while still keeping them safe
- How to teach your child effective ways to overcome adversity
From the book
Privacy isn’t the same as secrecy
A short passage on giving teens room to grow while staying close.
“Just because they want to have the door of their room closed at all times, tell you not to look in their school bag or befriend them on social media doesn’t mean they are hiding something from you.”
From the book’s section on privacy
Reader perspectives
What readers say
Full of heart and understanding, with good reminders and things to think about for parenting teens.
Practical tips to help as a parent, with nice science on why teens think the way they do.
7 Vital Parenting Skills for Understanding Teenagers and Communicating with Teens
About this book
Who this guide is for
In 7 Vital Parenting Skills for Understanding Teenagers and Communicating with Teens, best-selling parenting author Frank Dixon offers loving parents of teenagers proven methods that any mom or dad can use to help their teen son or daughter transition from being a child into a well-adjusted and confident young adult.
Parenting teenagers is not easy, but being a teen in today’s digital world of constant connection to social media, peer pressure and negative comments is much tougher than it was even twenty years ago.
A seven-skill approach to the teenage years
The book walks you through the seven most important skills for communicating effectively with your teenager:
- How to set a positive example, so your teen is much more likely to make positive changes on their own
- Why your teenager does what they do: how changes in the brain and hormones affect communication, empathy and handling stress
- How to communicate your values and expectations to prevent defiance, lying and discipline problems
- How to set realistic expectations and make sure your teen understands them
- How to choose which battles to have, with examples of what to address immediately and what can be overlooked
- How to allow independence, personal time and trust while still keeping your teen safe
- How to help a teen with anxiety or self-doubt overcome adversity and build self-confidence
Guidance connected to everyday family life
It is our job as parents to make sure our teens understand that the physical and emotional changes of puberty and adolescence are completely normal, and to teach them how to cope with changes at school, at home and with their friends.
Start with the issue on your mind
It’s time to start building a healthy relationship with your teenager and help them learn the skills they need to find happiness, be successful and be prepared for whatever life throws at them. Pick the skill below that matches what your family is facing today.
Inside the book
What you’ll learn
Seven parenting skills to help you approach everyday conversations, expectations and disagreements with your teen.
Model the behaviour you want to see
Set a positive example so your teen is far more likely to make good choices on their own.
Understand why teens do what they do
Learn how changes in the brain and hormones affect communication, empathy and how teens handle stress.
Communicate your values and expectations
Share what matters to your family in a way that prevents defiance, lying and discipline problems.
Set realistic expectations
Agree on expectations your teen can actually meet, and make sure they understand them.
Choose your battles
Know which issues need addressing straight away and which can be let go to keep the peace at home.
Give independence while keeping them safe
Offer personal time and trust without losing sight of their safety.
Build confidence to overcome adversity
Help a teen facing anxiety or self-doubt find effective ways to cope and grow in confidence.
Find the parenting skill most relevant to your family.
Before you choose
Questions about the book
Who is this book for?
Parents of teenage sons and daughters who want calmer, clearer communication at home.
What will I learn?
Seven practical parenting skills, from setting a positive example to choosing your battles and building your teen’s confidence.
Which formats can I choose?
The book is available on Amazon in paperback and hardcover, and as an audiobook.
Can I hear the narration before buying?
Yes. Play the free audiobook sample near the top of this page.
How long is the book?
The paperback is 81 pages, so it’s a quick read you can come back to whenever you need it.
Is this part of a series?
Yes. It’s part of Frank Dixon’s Vital Parenting series, alongside books on teen girls, teen boys, ADHD and positive discipline.
Start reading
Take the next step toward clearer communication
Paperback, hardcover and audiobook editions available on Amazon.
Continue the series
More books in this series
Vital Parenting series
7 Vital Parenting Skills for Improving Child Behavior and Positive Discipline
Explore this book →
Vital Parenting series
7 Vital Parenting Skills for Understanding Teenagers and Communicating with Teens
Frank Dixon gives parents of teenagers proven methods to help their son or daughter grow from a child into a well-adjusted, confident young adult. Being a teen in today’s always-connected world is harder than ever, and this book shows you how to guide them through it.
