It's likely you have been spending a lot more time with your teen over the last few months, and, for some families, that has meant getting to know them a bit better, or understanding their teenage lives more, but for many parents it will also have meant more tussles, conflict and disagreements, which can be really stressful for everyone.

I have mentioned before how the teen brain is super focussed on building really strong bonds with peers (this drive to be sociable with friends will be subconscious as well as purposeful). They are also biologically programmed to gradually 'separate' from you and become independent. It's normal- and this might mean they disagree with you about -well- everything, potentially!

So to talk to your teen successfully -whilst minimising pushback - a great technique is to literally get alongside them, and have 'sideways conversations'.

Being alongside them, with less eye contact, will make them feel less challenged and will allow you to chat about all sorts of things: as you walk the dog, drive somewhere, walk to the shops, cook together, and so on.

See if you can find other places or ways to have sideways conversations, and if you've got a great scenario that worked for you, please do share it in the Growing a Grown Up Facebook Community - I'm sure loads of other people will be grateful to hear from you! (If you haven't joined yet- then come on in!)

We all need ideas to help us keep communicating well, whilst our teens slowly separate from us and become independent young adults.