How to get your teen talking

Is getting your kid to ‘open up’ to you a) easy like Sunday morning, b) like talking to a brick wall or c) like a box of chocolates – you never know which kid you’ll get? Sometimes “how was your day?” is all it takes to get the conversation rolling…about school, about their friends, the movie they want to see this weekend. And sometimes that same question can halt with a one-word response and zero eye contact. Teenagers can be especially tricky to talk to, and when the conversation is an important one, it can be even harder.

11 Ways to Get Your Teen Talking offers great tips on how to start a back-and-forth conversation with your teenagers. However, we know that conversations about important topics like underage drinking need to start earlier than the teenage years. When it comes to alcohol, studies show parents are the biggest influence in their kid’s decision to drink or not drink alcohol. So, what are you waiting for? Take a deep breath and start talking! Watch our A Lifetime of Conversations Begins Today video and this series of clips from real moms on How to Start Tough Conversations to help you guide a lifetime of conversations about alcohol responsibility with your kids. Remember, talking with your kids about alcohol early and often is the best way to keep them safe and Responsibility.org has tools and resources to help.