After raising 5 teenagers, my wife, Susan, and I have learned a few keys about communication. So here are 7 C’s for communicating with teens. First, be calm. Rather than go into a conversation angry or upset, be sure to keep calm. This creates an environment for you and your teen to talk without the pressure of emotions. Second, be confident. Teenagers can be very persuasive. But it’s important to stand your ground and be strong. Third, be clear. Don’t beat around the bush; be very clear in what you say so there can be no wiggle room. Keep those lines of communication open.

For more on this topic on my blog, go to 7 C's for Communicating with Teens.