Here are 5 coaching tips to help your teenager learn how to ask for assistance.

5 Tips for Helping Your Teen Ask for Help

When your teen needs help, do they actually ask for help? Or do they pretend to have all the answers when they’re actually feeling frustrated and helpless? As parents, it’s natural for us to jump in and solve our kid’s problems. We’ve been doing it all their lives. But at some point, we have to teach them to help themselves. How do we shift from “fix it” mode to “support” mode? Here are 5 tips to navigate what tend to be emotionally charged moments:

1. Use a Coach-Approach

Don’t offer solutions. Use a coach-approach. Ask questions instead of offering solutions. This makes your teen part of the problem-solving process.

2. Give Your Teen Conversation Starters

Give your teen conversation starters so they know how to ask for help.

3. Teach That Those with Authority Are Real People

Teach that those with authority are real people.

4. Reframe “Help”

Reframe “Help.”

5. Take the Focus Off of Your Teen

Take the focus off of your teen.