The importance of family relationships and friendships for young people

When trying to communicate with your teenager, it may sometimes seem as if they're speaking another language – one full of slang words and phrases you’ve never heard of. Our Teenagers’ Language Guide will help you decipher teen slang so you can have better communication with your child.

It can be hard for a teenage girl to chat to her mum – or anyone – about a sensitive issue. A mother daughter private code may help her talk when she’s feeling awkward or unhappy.

Communicating with teens about the problems they're facing can be difficult – it’s all too easy to say, “You’ll get over it.” But being dismissive can discourage them from expressing their feelings.

Sometimes it can seem that there’s a world of difference between your own experiences growing up and your child’s. But just because you grew up in a less digital age, it doesn’t mean your experiences are completely different. It’s the way situations and discoveries make your child feel, rather than specific details that are important. 

Convincing kids that it's worth devoting time and effort to schoolwork can be a major source of tension. Here, a mother, Jennifer, and her daughters, Emily and Samantha*, give their views on a typical mother-daughter struggle over homework – showing how understanding other people’s points of view in family disputes can reduce anger and upset on all sides.