Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to bring teenagers under control? Giving them too much freedom in their activities and restricting activities are both extremes of behavior management and generally do not work with budding teens.
For years, the motive of an institution has been to first promote academy values in students and then focus on behavioral factors or to do them both simultaneously. Recently, it has also changed how it functions in its everyday life to adapt to student needs, which are for general convenience and not for academic or personal life nurturing. For example, every admission portal has now shifted to admission management software. Just like the technical and educational concepts or methodologies are slowly changing, how we manage student behavior, influence, and interact with them is also changing.
Before we discuss how to make rules for teenagers, we must understand the point of view of a teen student towards the rules. It is surprising for some out-of-touch teachers to know that teams also have their boundaries. It’s great to have boundaries because this is the age where students start learning about consent, the diversity of life and people, disciplinary and responsibility-related lessons, etc. Hence, it is important to understand the mental frame of a classroom and the teenagers to set rules for them.
Here are a few tips that can help both parents and teachers out;
Table of Contents
Don’t control them
Trying to control a teenager is the worst thing because this leads to conflict, leading teenagers to rebel and not follow simple rules. Everyone should start with easily doable rules that do not limit the behavior patterns of a teenager but rather allow them to improve how they behave and tackle situations. Guidance to teenagers should never come off as controlling behavior- it traumatizes students, gives them self-esteem issues, and has a long-lasting effect as an inferiority complex in them.
Learning through practice, influence, and encouragement
Appeasement is responsible for bringing up their child, giving them ideas about life, educating them, and nurturing the soft skills that they possess. They mostly deal with controlling the behaviors of their teenagers at home, outside, in a school environment, in the presence of family members and official people, etc. they also get to have a say in their life values and preferences that might affect their behavior and well-being.
Most of the time, teenagers don’t trust their parents and like to do what they want, dress, and have a fashion sense different from what their parents would prefer. Some parents are open-minded and agree that teenagers should go through multiple phases before realizing their true personalities. However, most don’t.
When parents first go through the admission management system and enroll their child in an institution, they hope for the teachers to fix their behavior and manage both their academic and personal life values. But what makes them think the approach of a teacher would be any different? Training and experience of teachers. Teachers don’t focus on the authoritative nature in a classroom.
Unlike a parent, they don’t wish to control the behavior of their students, rather they maintain open communication lines end mix students understand why some rules are important to follow, and others are not. Hence, teachers are practicing and maximizing the influence through explanations of how a rule can benefit teenagers.
Parents can make their life easier by applying the same concept. Encourage your teenagers, don’t simply enforce rules, and help them become better individuals and understand how they are doing so.
Respect personal boundaries
This is a tit-for-tat tactic. If you do not respect your teenager’s boundaries, they will find difficulty in doing so and not follow the rules out of spite.
Open and straightforward communication
If you observe your child constantly not following the rules or acting out of line, talk to them and help them share their thoughts honestly. Pushing them to talk can only develop into a rebellion from their side because you are crossing their boundaries and entering their personal territory of teenage emotions. Understand them, give them time to trust you, and adopt a caring approach.
When your teenagers or students trust you and understand why rules are set, and how they have to compromise sometimes, they will follow your rules.
