Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.
One of the bigger myths about teenagers is that they don’t want to spend time with their parents. Oftentimes, miscommunications and/or lack of time gets in the way of bonding with your teen, especially in one-on-one settings. But as plans change and vacations get postponed, this summer provides a unique opportunity for parents to bond with their teens.
Whether there are activities that you’ve always done together, such as shopping or exercising, or whether you’d like to try something new, such as building something together, these moments provide meaningful opportunities to get to know your teen better, to connect over conversation, and importantly, to have fun together.
Consider allowing your teenager to pick the activity or surprise them by doing something they’ve always wanted to do. The more excited and invested they are in the activity, the more likely it is that the experience will be positive for the both of you.
When parents and teenagers spend time together, it fosters a relationship with open and healthy communication. When you add fun to the mix, it allows for creating meaningful memories together that set the foundation for a strong parent/teen relationship down the road.