Recently my son and I went to see a play at Desales University. The Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. We have been to many shows together: Broadway, Sight and Sound, etc. and we thought we would check this one out. We both were genuinely excited to spend time together. I have four children so, 1:1-time hits different for us. It was my expectation that this play would be an adaptation of the literature. Meaning that the actors and actresses would be speaking plain, modern English. When reading Shakespeare it can be hard to follow what is being said. I did not think that the play would be spoken in Old English. I was wrong, we needed a translator. We both were falling asleep, and my son seemed frustrated. When intermission came along, we decided that we would just leave. When we left, we grabbed a snack and headed to Target for a little shopping. We wanted to take advantage of our uninterrupted time together, and a little retail therapy was the perfect choice for both of us.
Here are five things to do when planning to spend quality time with your teenager
1. Communicate
Ask them what they want to do. Discuss their interests, preferences, and expectations for the outing. Value their input and perspective. Effective communication will help in creating experiences that align with their interest, while also opening them up to new ideas
2. Choose Activities Together
When brainstorming about what activities to do consult your child. Ask them what they think about visiting one place vs. another.
3. Be Flexible
If you arrive at an activity or event, and either of you are uncomfortable be open to leaving. And perhaps find something else to do together, even if it is just siting and talking while enjoying a snack.
4. Limit Distractions
Children, even teenagers want undivided attention. You want them to feel like a priority. This also is an opportunity to model for them what your expectations are when you are communicating and wanting them to listen.
5. Listen Actively
Engage in conversation with your teenager. Listen to gain knowledge and understanding. Ask questions, be patient, and share stories about your life.
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