Summer Guest Post from SAY San Diego

Guest Post from: Cesar Brijandez, Youth and Family Counselor of SAY San Diego, in partnership with The County of San Diego. 

Photo: My nephew, Jake McCabe, fishing the Chatahoochee River near Atlanta, this summer.

Thank you to Cesar for the following content for this topic.

"Spending a summer with teenagers can be challenging. One of the greatest challenges comes from   teenagers  thinking  they are adults but are not quite there yet.  Here are some tips on how teenagers think and plan their activities, and how parents can help:

·         Most teenagers lack experience in making decisions and tend to procrastinate.

·          Most teenagers are in “limbo” when making decisions on activities to take on. 

·         As you discuss plans for your summer, the important thing to do is listen to teenagers when they talk about an interest or potential hobby. 

·         Teenagers want to be heard before they are told what to do. 

·         When teenagers talk about an issue or concern it is important to encourage them.   Teenagers need encouragement to make the decisions and embark on a new activity. 

·         Remember to model appropriate behavior to your teenager.  The best way for them to learn is for them to see how patient you are or how to handle yourself in a difficult moment. 

·         Allow for “last minute changes in plans!  Teens may not share all of the information you need at first, or they may  not even have all the information as they start making their plans…. so it helps  if parents can be flexible and adjust to last minute changes …. surprise, surprise:  teens, like everyone else, aren’t perfect !!

SSpecial thanks to Ellen Yaffa ellen@saysandiego.org.