Why Teenagers Reject Parents' Solutions to Their Problems

• Offering our kids an ear, empathy and encouragement helps them tremendously and moves the needle towards the best solution.
• Asking teens if they need any help is the first step towards providing relevant advice.
• Divide their problem into two categories: what can be changed, and what cannot.
• For things that can be changed, focus on the needs identified by your kid, and brainstorm for possible solutions.
• For things that cannot be changed, help them come in terms with the circumstances that are not in one's control.

Solving any teenager problem is an exercise in futility, with broken hearts, social dramas and academic pressure making them split their heads every day.

Teens share their worries with us because they feel like sharing, and need empathy, not a solution. Reassuring and sincere words that make them feel better can be enough, and any solution offered will most probably backfire.

They may only need a vote of confidence and can easily turn well-intentioned guidance as criticism and lectures.