As parents, we all want the best for our children. We strive to provide them with the tools they need to succeed in life and become successful adults.One of these important skills is emotional development, which can be especially challenging during adolescence.

The teenage years are a time of significant physical and psychological growth, as teens transition from childhood into adulthood. During this period, teens may experience a wide range of emotions, including excitement, fear, confusion and insecurity – all while navigating newfound independence and their changing relationships with family members and peers. You may have noticed that their rapidly changing mood reminds you of when they were very little. Due to changes taking place in the brain and the influx of hormones, teens are likely to experience intense emotions – for reasons that may even seem silly or trivial to adults; however, these feelings and the responses that they receive are important as teens work to discover their sense of self and identity.

You do not have to understand or agree with the emotion to help your teen or young adult navigate that feeling. Encourage healthy communication between yourself and your child by offering to help them figure out what is causing the emotion; this can start with simply trying to identify and label the feeling that they are experiencing.

To support your teen’s emotional development it’s important that you try to create an environment where they feel safe enough to express themselves openly without judgement or criticism. You do not have to understand or agree with the emotion to help your teen or young adult navigate that feeling. Encourage healthy communication between yourself and your child by offering to help them figure out what is causing the emotion; this can start with simply trying to identify and label the feeling that they are experiencing. Role model positive behavior by acknowledging how you manage strong or difficult emotions when faced with challenges. You do not have to give advice, or know the “right” thing to say in those moments – sometimes just being there and listening can work wonders. Lastly, set expectations and clear boundaries around respectful behavior, so that everyone understands what is acceptable in terms of expressing feelings within the household. This may mean helping your teen or young adult come up with some strategies to manage their emotions before things get too escalated.

Encouraging open dialogue about feelings will help teens and young adults better understand their own thoughts and behaviors, as well as those around them – allowing them to develop empathy towards others and practice self-regulation techniques, such as problem-solving strategies. Additionally, teaching and demonstrating healthy and effective ways to manage emotions, such as mindfulness practices, deep breathing, journaling, and advocacy can also help teen and young adults learn how regulate their emotions more effectively over time.