1. Pay attention to the small things along with the significant things. If you are generally a good listener, your teen will be more likely to talk to you..
2. When your teen talks to you, pay attention. Don’t be doing something else.
3. If you can’t pay attention right at the moment, explain why. Ask if you can talk about the issue later, at a specific time..
4. Ask questions for clarification, but watch out for coming across as critical. If your teen sees your questions as disapproval, stop asking them.
5. Expect your teen to change his mind frequently. Avoid commenting on the inconsistencies.
6. What are 10 things you can do starting today to continue the recovery process?
7. Accept your teen’s opinions, even if you don’t agree with them.

1. Be a part of your teen’s life. If possible, be present when she is likely to be home.
2. Encourage your teen to talk to you openly at any time.
3. When your teen tells you things, watch your reaction. Avoid reactions that will cause him to think twice about being candid with you in the future.
4. Be specific about what kind of behavior you expect and what is unacceptable.
5. Keep harmful substances out of the house. This includes cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. When teens have access to these items, they are more likely to use them.
6. Expect good things from your teen. Teens who know their parents expect the best have greater emotional well-being.
7. Encourage your teen to become involved in school activities. Those who are involved at school engage in fewer high-risk behaviors.

Now let’s talk about some of the risks that teens face. First, let’s look at drugs and alcohol. These are a few things you can do to help your teen stay away from drugs and alcohol.

1. State your expectations clearly.
2. Pay attention to where your teen is.
3. When your teen leaves home, ask her to tell you where she is going. Ask for specifics
4. If your teen says he is going one place but actually goes somewhere else, consider restricting his freedom for awhile.
5. Remember that your teen is innocent until proven guilty. Stay open to the possibility that there is a reasonable explanation for any story you might hear.
6. Build relationships with other parents and agree on the rules. If none of the kids in the group have complete freedom, there will be less peer pressure and more safety.

Teens are known for their mood swings. It is common for them to feel sad or gloomy. Many parents become concerned about a teen’s moods.
    Depression is different from the blues because it lasts longer and is more intense. Clinical depression is an illness that can lead to very serious problems, with lifelong implications. Some of the warning signs that your teen may have something more serious than the blues are:

1. She shows less interest in her appearance.
2. She seems to feel hopeless.
3. He seems to hate himself.
4. He seems indifferent about most things.
5. She seems numb.
6. She lacks energy.
7. He talks or thinks about death and dying.
8. He changes his sleeping or eating habits.
9. She loses interest in her friends or hobbies.
10. She stops caring about her pets or cherished possessions.
11. He has a sudden change in his grades at school.
12. He complains of extraordinary stress..
13. She withdraws from people.

If you think your teen’s mood may be depression, here are some things you can do about it:

1. Talk to your teen about how he is feeling. Help him get it off his chest. Encourage him to think of solutions to what is bothering him.
2. Encourage your teen to participate in some kind of physical activity.
3. Check in with her more often than usual.