The Importance Of Having Good Communication With Adolescents
When we talk about the growth process that takes us from childhood to adulthood, we often tend to overlook that this is not a purely biological process, limited to the maturation of organs and cellular tissues of the body.
And the process of biological maturation is as important as that which is reflected in physical changes. In this sense, it is worth remembering that the human mind grows and expands not through the processing of nutrients and vitamins over time, but through socialization, a much less individual phenomenon and not limited to what happens within the organism. , but rather links it to its environment.
And in this aspect, communication is key, since along with experimentation and exploration of the world, it is the main learning vehicle. Thus It is important to establish good communication dynamics with our children during their childhood and adolescence: It is something that allows them to mature emotionally and socially.
What are the benefits of maintaining good communication with your teenager?
Taking into account that many of the emotional and relational problems experienced in the family basically have to do with an inadequate communication style, taking care of this last element is capable of offering an almost unlimited amount of benefits. However, if we focus on the field of raising adolescent sons and daughters, the following advantages are worth highlighting:
As much as schools are known for dedicating most of their efforts to allowing the students who come to them to learn about different important topics, the truth is that the young people who fill them are constantly learning, often without realizing it. this, even beyond school hours.
It is natural that this is how it is: Our species is characterized by its predisposition to learn in practically any context Unlike many invertebrate animals, which are capable of repeating the same mistake over and over again until dying of exhaustion after a few hours, we are very good at becoming aware of what is happening around us and trying to adapt to it.
Now, this also has a negative side: we are capable of learning and internalizing patterns of behavior or thinking that are counterproductive in the medium and long term, and since they do not harm us immediately, we repeat them over and over again without realizing that we are participating in the problem that affects us. Luckily, as we gain experience we learn more about our mistakes.
But… what happens with adolescents, who have a great predisposition to learn but do not have much experience? In this case, communication is key. If we are able to transmit well the knowledge that we have acquired throughout our years of life, we can save them many unnecessary setbacks.
2. Helps you develop self-knowledge and achieve balanced self-esteem
Contrasting ideas with us can help them question beliefs about themselves, things they believed about the concept of “I” that was limiting them and leading them to undervalue themselves, for example. Having the point of view of an adult allows them to see things from a very different perspective than that of adolescents who normally subscribe to a set of values and beliefs different from those of others, both as a matter of maturity and as a matter of differences between generations.
3. It allows you to understand your place in the family
Not communicating well with a son or daughter of adolescent age can mean that they experience family life as an encouraging phenomenon, a space that does not belong to him and in which he feels the need to behave in a pretend way (or, to isolate himself and interact as little as possible with the rest of the inhabitants of the house, so as not to have to force his behavior). On the other hand, if communication flows well, he will be able to understand his role in the house, and feel that he is a respected member of it.
4. Help ensure that home rules are followed
Another implication of maintaining good communication with a teenager has to do with their predisposition to comply with home rules. And it is that Whether you respect them or not depends above all on whether you understand them, for which the involvement of the elders in the house is usually necessary
5. Promotes conflict resolution
Of course, we must not forget that resolving conflicts between parents and adolescent children is much easier if there is good communication on a day-to-day basis. If not, The negotiations and reconciliations that are often necessary to resolve these issues are met with greater initial resistance
On the other hand, the lack of common moments to talk also makes it easier for adolescents to not take into account the interests of the rest of the family members, so establishing a correct communicative flow is also a conflict prevention factor.
If you are interested in having professional psychological support for you or your son or daughter, contact us.
In PSiCOBAi We offer child-adolescent and adult therapy, as well as family therapy. We work from face-to-face sessions at our center in Majadahonda or through online sessions by video call.
