3 Ways to Understand Typical Teenage Behavior

1. Note the Enormous Body and Brain Changes Taking Place in Teens

Parents often feel as if their teenager belongs to an entirely different species. Suddenly, your once-easygoing child is prone to fits of sullenness, withdrawal and arguing. Understanding typical teenage behavior, with all its challenges, requires an understanding of the enormous body and brain changes occurring in your teenager. He is maturing physically at an incredible rate while his brain and emotions struggle to keep up. Be compassionate regarding the changes, and you'll be more successful in handling teenage behavior.

2. Talk With Other Parents and Teachers

Sometimes it's best to find allies who have been through, or are going through, the same thing as you. If you're struggling to understand teenage behavior, speaking with others in the same boat can help. Talk out your frustrations and ask questions of other parents to provide yourself with emotional release, comfort and maybe even a few epiphanies. Interacting with other parents is also useful when you need advice on whether a behavior is typical or whether you're witnessing something more serious. Such interactions can also bolster your confidence in your parenting skills. You may find that you're doing a better job than you thought.

3. Observe Teen-to-Teen Relationships

To get a handle on typical teen actions, it's helpful to observe how teens interact with one another. The relationships between your daughter and her peers can provide you with indications as to why she behaves the way she does. Take a closer look at her social life, noting how she deals with conflicts that arise with her friends. For teenagers, social pressures can be enormous, causing stress that often gets directed at family members. If your daughter is having trouble fitting in at school or has had a falling out with a friend, understand that she may lash out at you as a way of expressing her frustration, even though the real problem may have nothing to do with you.