Survival Guide Parent’s
Christmas Teenagers you know them they in the corner with a deep stare. The attitude queen.The very thought of christmas with teens. Instill fear in the heart of any self-respecting parent. It’s difficult enough to find them the right gifts, and even more of a problem. Wondering how to coerce them into leaving their rooms to spend time with the rest of the family. Teens are at a stage of development where they are totally focused on themselves. But there are some clever strategies you can use to make your Day with teenagers a merry one!
Christmas Teenagers Survival Guide Parents
Give them a choice
Adolescents are in the process of developing a sense of individuality. So they have a strong need to make their own decisions. This is why they don’t want to comply with adult requests. They want to have control over their own choices. The best way to handle this is to allow them to choose from a range of options that you offer them. This works because you are empowering them to choose, resulting in them becoming more involved in their chosen task.
Want to be happy survival tip with Christmas Teenagers
Don’t force teens to join in – you won’t win! If, such as, your teen doesn’t want to go with the family to choose a tree, don’t argue with them, just leave them at home.
Give them responsibility
You will enjoy a far more relaxed Christmas with teenagers. If you allow them to take over some of the responsibilities. Flatter them into new roles:
- ask them to take a younger sibling to see Santa
- pay them to make hors d’oevres and wait on guests at your holiday gatherings
- ask them for their choice of Christmas music downloaded on to an iPod
- Invite their friends and help decorate the house or the tree; give munchies and treats, and they’ll have a great time!
Keep them active and involved Christmas teenagers
“Keep them active and involved”
Teenage boys especially will engage more if they’re active. This doesn’t necessarily mean running around outside. But even walking around or being involved in activities using their hands will result in an increased level of participation.
Here are a few suggestions your teenagers might enjoy:
- decorate their own room
- Christmas baking
- put family’s names in glitter on Santa hats
- go shopping to the grocery store for food to give to the local food bank
- volunteer at a homeless shelter to help serve food
- arrange a wackiest Secret Santa gift exchange: everyone brings a gift, at a cost of twenty-five dollars for one other person. After the gifts are distributed, your teen gets to judge which gift is the wackiest and award a prize.
It can be easy to think of the teenage years as a period of endurance and confrontation. Which will undoubtedly create a tense atmosphere. Talk to your teens ask them how they’re doing. And be interested in their opinions. Christmas with teenagers doesn’t have to be a battleground!
I lost the whole “I need” and “I want” thing of Christmas when I was 16. From then on, I didn’t care about gifts or what I got. I stopped asking and if my parents and family got me things, great, if not no big deal. Now with my niece, I noticed when she was 16… She was no where like that. She is still heavily about presents and gets mad when she doesn’t get what she wants. I think when it comes to that, it is something some people don’t grow out of while others take a very long time to.
Britanica, Teenagers it get better with age. Glad you like this post. Thank you for your support
My kids will be there soon enough and I will definitely try some of these out. I think giving them responsibilities makes sense.
Great advice. I have grandkids who becoming teenagers and their attitude is really starting to get bad it seems about everything.
Tammy, We have to keep reminding ourselves how we use to be…But for Christmas get the teenagers involve with choice.
I agree about giving them a choice and not forcing them. I had two teenagers and you are right about not winning when you force them.
OurFamilyWorld, Teenagers I found given them responsibility and choices make them feel respected …Part of growing up. Thanks for stopping by and giving your support.
I think it’s important for kids of all ages, but especially teens, to get involved in some type of giving to those less fortunate.
I completely agree about giving them options to choose from, all of which are ok with you. They don’t need to know that part. 😉
Christmas is always a nice way to bond with your kids, especially the one that are going through a phase in their life wherein they need to find a sense of individuality. Thanks for these suggestions, they will help parents a lot.
We had a family Christmas get together tonight and I put my teenager to work. She helped me cook for the first time, and I think she loved it because she told everyone the dishes she made.
Stephanie,This was a great idea allowing your daughter to cook for the first time. Small steps built trust make responsible adults in the future.