Here Are 6 Practical Methods to Develop Communication Skills in Teenagers

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There’s a big difference between talking and communicating.

And when it comes to communicating with teenagers, it needs more than a strong vocabulary.

Here are 6 practical ways in which you can develop communication skills in teenagers.

1. Encourage Open Conversations at Home

This is critical and not something that can happen overnight.

Beginning from the time where the child is old enough to talk, or even sit up, practice talking to them.

From asking them about their day, their friends, their activities, to their studies and hobbies as they grow up, you’ll be able to develop a deep and meaningful connection over the years.

Instead of fumbling around trying to figure out what to say, you would’ve created your own equation with them.

What’s more important is your child should be comfortable and feel safe when communicating with you.

Resist the urge to interject with some of your wisdom or condescension.

I know it’s reflexive and irresistible, but try. You don’t want to put them off.

And teenagers are pretty skittish and sensitive to anything they find uncomfortable.

2. Promote Active Listening

Communication is a two-way street with both speaking and listening involved. It’s not either/or; it’s and/both.

When they are speaking, listen carefully. Show interest by maintaining eye contact. Be involved by asking relevant questions. They’ll learn by watching you. They’ll also feel like they are being taken seriously.

They’ll respect you for that. And when it’s your turn to speak, they’ll reciprocate in the same way — that is listen to you with interest.

Try to have one-on-one talks with your teenagers, without pre conceived assumptions.

Keep an open mind. Ask them questions where you don’t understand their viewpoints (and there will be many!).

Don’t hesitate or feel embarrassed. It’s the best way to clear misunderstandings and lay the foundations for constructive conversations in future.

3. Engage in Role-Playing Activities

Remember all those times when you played together, with them acting like they were a doctor or a teacher or even a parent?

Well, role playing can be a big help even now. You can use role playing to help them to prepare for interviews and presentations.

It’s a more enjoyable approach to improve their communication skills without the added stress of the real-life situations. You can work on the areas they need help in, give your suggestions, focus on body language (like no slouching), and making eye contact.

And this is the perfect time to start working with them on these skills as their social interactions move beyond their friends.

But remember to relax and enjoy the process. Don’t dump your years of experience on them and expect them to excel immediately.

Go easy!

4. Encourage Reading and Discussing Books

I can’t stress on this enough. Every time a parent approaches me with any kind of problem, I often ask them if their child does any reading at all.

Reading helps broaden the child’s mind, nurtures new ideas, develops perspectives, improves creativity and imagination, and expands their vocabulary. And this helps them to communicate better.

Encourage your child to read. Let them explore different genres. Each book will contribute to growing their mind and developing their thinking.

Try reading the same books or recommend books to each other. You can then discuss the characters, or the plot, or how each of you feel about it.

Now that my kids are old enough, we often recommend books to each other. And when we discuss, I get an insight into their minds and understand how they think. It’s truly an enlightening and educating experience.

The more the teens read, the more they’ll get to think deeper and the better they’ll get at articulating their ideas and thoughts.

5. Engage In Activities Together.

Encourage them to participate in group activities. It will require teamwork and they’ll get a chance to work on their communication skills.

Sports teams, debate clubs, theatre groups, community service, and even part-time jobs. Each of these experiences will provide practical and real life opportunities for your teenagers to engage with others from varied age groups. It’ll also give them a chance to practice their communication skills in a variety of settings.

You can do the same thing at home. Game nights or family trips or even outdoor activities like treks, can provide you ample chances to connect and communicate with your teenager.

6. Utilize Technology Positively

Sometimes I feel the only way to reach my teens is through messages!

But yes, you’ve to accept that to be able to communicate effectively with them, or to get your foot into the doorway of their world, you’ve to know how to use technology effectively.

Instead of being ‘anti’ to their use of technology, encourage them to create blogs, vlogs, podcasts, or even try their hand at coding.

Basically turn their interests into more creative outlets using technology.

It’s almost like an anti-climax, what with you wanting to get them off the net or weaning them off the gadgets.

But look at it as a more constructive way of leveraging technology then just spending hours on mind numbing scrolling.

It also provides them opportunities to hone their writing, speaking and presentation skills. It builds up their confidence in facing others, and taking pride in being able to create something by themselves.

And this is one activity they’ll never say a definite ‘no’ to immediately.

Conclusion

These methods are supposed to be practical and easy to implement, having a positive approach, and promoting growth and development, working on the communication skills of teenagers is more like a long-term project. You can’t expect results with just a few days of working with them.

Make a conscious habit of incorporating these methods into your daily life, making it a part of your parenting journey.

You’ll eventually see the results you want, as you see them as young, confident communicators.

And that makes it worth the effort.

Hey, I’m Gomati Sekhar Ghosh, a writer, blogger. And also a veteran, educator and solopreneur.

I’m enjoying writing about the lessons learnt over the years in the different roles, be it in the uniform or corporate sector or classroom. I mostly explore themes based on parenting, children, and personal development.

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