Teens Don’t Want Parents to Fix Problems—They Just Want Them to Listen

Comforting teens can be a real struggle, especially when they are dealing with intense emotions. A recent survey has revealed what kids in their teens need from their parents during a troublesome moment. Being there for them is enough, and it seems advice to help them with problems is not helpful at all.

Listening to Teens

Parents who think about how to communicate with their teenagers often wonder how to achieve a good conversation and help with their problems. This is even more difficult with teens who are closed off and don’t talk back. Regardless of the case, reflective parenting is certainly helpful for people raising teens.

The big emotions that teens go through are the hardest to handle and are where parents have the most difficulty in offering comfort. According to a new survey, parents can have more success in comforting sad, anxious, or stressed teens by allowing them to just talk and listen in response.

A Comprehensive New Survey

The survey concluded that 62% of teens prefer to have their parents listen to them when they are upset. Also, 56% just want to be given some space. Only 28% of teenagers prefer to receive advice from their parents when they are upset.

The study focused on Gen Z, ages 10 to 18, and found out that they think they already have plenty of coping techniques for dealing with intense emotions. So, when asked what they would like to get from their parents as support through tough moments, they stated that listening is more important than reassurance or advice.

Teen Emotional Experiences

Scientists also tracked what emotional experiences the teens were going through during emotional events. They discovered their moods were complicated and shifting all the time through stress, anxiety, happiness, and sadness in one day.

Parents of teens and tweens were also interviewed for the study to share some wisdom from their experience. Some 16% of them stated they had difficulties comforting their children or communicating with them effectively when they were upset. Parents of children 13 to 15 were likely to report having struggles communicating with their kids, and only 19 % admitted it openly.

Gendered Approaches

The study checked what methods teens had to cope with difficult emotional times, and it found out that listening to music, playing video games, and connecting with friends were the top three. Other ways include talking about feelings, seeking psychical comfort, going outside, or browsing YouTube.

Some said they preferred being creative, doing some physical activity, and solving the problem themselves. There were also other approaches like journaling, comfort eating, going on social media, and doing self-care.