Healthy Relationships

Families today take many forms. Regardless of structure, a strong sense of family bonding has been linked to better emotional development, school success and decreased involvement in high-risk activities, including drug use. Here are 10 simple ways to connect to your teen:

1. Share your child's interest
2. Do something together
3. Skip the lecture
4. Keep it simple
5. Give your child breathing room
6. Have family meals
7. Chat while working together
8. Connect online
9. Create a ritual
10. Talk about your own youth

• Students who feel connected to their school are also more likely to have better academic achievement, better attendance and stay in school longer. How is a strong connection to school developed? Many experts agree that developing a strong connection to school is built on healthy relationships…with parents, teachers, peers and others.
   
• School connectedness provides a protective factor for teens. Research has shown that young people who feel connected to their school are less likely to engage in many risky behaviors. Parents who have the expectation that their teen will be involved will have a teen who is more likely to choose to be involved. It's important to note that teens respond better when given the freedom to choose an activity. This can be coupled with the understanding that they will commit to that activity for a reasonable amount of time. The level of involvement in activities, clubs or organizations should be balanced with other demands in the teen's life (homework, family, job, church, etc.).