Any advice for improving teen communication at home?

[Baker Vivianne]

I feel like my teen shuts down whenever I try to talk seriously. How do I get them to open up without forcing it?

[Nelson Julissa]

That was my struggle too! What really helped was using conversation starters from https://www.the-littlest-thistle.com/de ... ons-teens/ . The questions are subtle but thought-provoking, like “What’s something that worries you about the future?” or “When do you feel safest?” I let my teen answer freely without interrupting, and sometimes I answer too — it makes it a dialogue rather than an interrogation. Over a few weeks, I noticed she started sharing more voluntarily. It takes patience, but these kinds of prompts really create opportunities for honest, meaningful conversations at home.