Here are a few ways to help start the conversation with your teens before they head back to school:

1. Remind them of the positive. Recognize all the good things your teenager did during the last semester to show responsibility, like getting good grades, communicating frequently or saying no to underage drinking. Show positive reinforcement and let them know that you’re proud of these behaviors, and they’re likely to continue them next semester.

2. Give examples of how they can be responsible. It’s possible that things didn’t go as planned for your teen last semester. If that’s the case, avoid making accusations and instead opt for more constructive feedback. Provide a few examples of how you define responsibility to give them something specific to shoot for, for example:

·      Attend all your classes

·      Turn in your homework on time

·      If you’re asked to drink, have the confidence to say no

3. Ask for their input.  Any time you talk to your kids about underage drinking and your expectations, it should be a two-way conversation. Allow them to express their feelings, and discuss what you can do to help support them throughout the semester. Ask open-ended questions to help them develop an action plan to ensure a safe and responsible spring semester.

4. Find out what they want to accomplish. Ask your teens what their goals are for this year – How do you see their semester going? Where do you want to travel? How do you want to learn and grow? When teens realize a goal and have support to work towards it, it helps them be responsible and avoid peer.

5. Look at this as a fresh start. A new year is a clean slate. No matter what’s happened in the past, let go of any lingering negativity and allow yourself to focus on what’s possible for the future. This doesn’t mean that that you shouldn’t react appropriately if your teen makes a mistake; learn from it, move on and enable your teens to be proactive going forward. Go into this semester (and the rest of the year, for that matter) with a fresh mindset – and encourage your teen to do the same.

For more tips on communicating with your teens and establishing clear boundaries going into the upcoming semester, visit our website.