How Parents Can Help Their Teenagers
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Have you ever heard the popular proverbs, “Tell me who you’re with, and I’ll tell you who you are”? That perfectly illustrates what Paul is teaching here. Our friends greatly influence our lives for good or evil. This is especially true during the teenage years. Many adolescents, because of insecurity, fear of rejection, and the desire to avoid ridicule, abandon their own convictions and give in to peer pressure. Some may even decide that they don’t want to go to church anymore. They may also be ashamed to admit to others that they are Christians. When they go through this phase, parental participation and orientation is so important.
How can parents help their children during this difficult time of life?
First of all, there needs to be ACCEPTANCE and LOVE in the home. Children need to feel secure in their relationship with their parents.
Secondly, parents need to FIND A CHURCH where their teenagers can build healthy friendships with other Christians their own age
Then, the COMMUNICATION LINES between parent and child must be kept open at all times, Teenagers need to know that their parents will listen and not overreact.
It is also important for parents to SPEND TIME with their CHILDREN’S FRIENDS.
Above all, we parents should be EXAMPLES that our children can follow. We do this when we “PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH” and show our children how we love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. It’s also important that we talk to them about the value of true, positive friendship and warn them about the dangers of keeping bad company. With time, our children will have the maturity to recognize the qualities of a real friend and be strong enough to remain true to their own convictions.