It can be a tough balance to keep teens on track by making sure they’ve done their homework, studied for that test, and taken the trash out…while also maintaining a strong relationship with them at the same time!

I hear all the time from parents who are trying SO hard to help, but feel like their teens are tuning them out…and from teens who feel like no matter how hard they try, it’s never enough to make their parents happy.

Deep down, both of them want the same thing: To feel like their efforts are being acknowledged and appreciated. To know that they are loved.

If you’ve been feeling a bit too much like the “homework police” lately, this is a great opportunity to look for ways to strengthen your connection with your teen, and show them that no matter what else is going on, you still love them for who they are – no matter what they have (or haven’t) accomplished lately.

One way you can do this is by learning their love language.

In The 5 Love Languages for Teenagers, Gary Chapman shares a number of strategies you can use to identify your teen’s love language.  It turns out that asking them directly isn’t the best option…but there are plenty of other approaches you can use instead!

To learn more about The 5 Love Languages and how to identify your teen’s language, check out the video below:

Join 11,000+ parents helping their students earn better grades with less stress!

About The Author

Dr. Maggie Wray is a certified ADHD Coach & Academic Life Coach with a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell and a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from Princeton. She founded Creating Positive Futures in 2012 to help high school and college students learn how to earn better grades with less stress. Her team of dedicated coaches is on a mission to empower students to develop the mindset, organization, time management, and study skills they need to achieve their goals.

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