--- title: | How to get your teen to talk description: How to get your teen to talk | --- [![](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/file-2454828850-png/Westtown-Feb2015/logo_graphic.png?width=68&height=68&name=logo_graphic.png)](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=1) [![](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/file-2451508821-png/Westtown-Feb2015/logo_text.png) Spirited Quaker education since 1799](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=1) # A Well-Lit Path: A Blog from Westtown School ## [The Teen in Trouble: When to Defend and When to Support](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/when-to-defend-when-to-support) Posted by [Linda Rosenberg McGuire](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/author/linda-rosenberg-mcguire) on November 12, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Our teenagers rarely need us to defend them, but they always need us to support them. Parents sometimes assume that supporting their child means defending them**. I would assert that defending your child may be a short-term remedy, but it does not provide the sustainable and effective support that teenagers both crave and require in order to become accountable adults.** What situations require defense and how to circumvent our desires to stand in between our child and a difficult situation?   **![Teens_in_Trouble_Stock](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/hub/394143/file-2072878568.jpeg?width=227&name=file-2072878568.jpeg)** [Read More](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/when-to-defend-when-to-support) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/when-to-defend-when-to-support#comments-listing) Topics: [How to get your teen to talk](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-get-your-teen-to-talk) ## [The Art of Not Reacting to Your Teen's Reactions](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/the-art-of-not-reacting-to-your-teens-reactions) Posted by [Linda Rosenberg McGuire](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/author/linda-rosenberg-mcguire) on November 7, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) So, you just told your child they can't do something. Maybe you said no to a concert, a movie date with a young driver, or a gathering with no adult supervision. What happens next? Does your child storm out of the room fuming under their breath? Sulk for an entire evening? Slam his door on the way into his room? All of these possibilities are disruptive and unsettling to a parent. However, they are totally normal reactions when teenagers don't get their way. One of the mistakes parents make is to call their teenager on how they "react" to being told no. Teenagers, like all of us, do not like to be denied something they want. Most are not mature or self-aware enough to thank their parent for making the tough decisions. If you have a teenager that defies you, then that is something to be very concerned about. But, if you simply have a teenager who feels angry at you, and as a result may say a throw-away comment, or spend an evening showing just how much they disapprove of your decision, then you have a teen who is acting well within the parameters of normal behavior.  [Read More](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/the-art-of-not-reacting-to-your-teens-reactions) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/the-art-of-not-reacting-to-your-teens-reactions#comments-listing) Topics: [How to get your teen to talk](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-get-your-teen-to-talk) ## [How to Get Your Teens to Talk](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/four-surprising-ways-to-raise-your-teens-self-esteem-0) Posted by [Linda Rosenberg McGuire](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/author/linda-rosenberg-mcguire) on October 27, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![blog teen](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20teen.jpg?width=270&name=blog%20teen.jpg)We all want our teenagers to open up and talk to us, but it is often easier in concept than in execution. After spending my career working with teenagers, raising my own, and in my current role as the Dean of Students at a top independent school, I have a couple of insights that might help. [Read More](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/four-surprising-ways-to-raise-your-teens-self-esteem-0) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/four-surprising-ways-to-raise-your-teens-self-esteem-0#comments-listing) Topics: [How to get your teen to talk](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-get-your-teen-to-talk) [All posts](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/all) ### Subscribe to Our Blog ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Inspiring the Best in Kids (46)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/inspiring-the-best-in-kids) - [Raising Resilient, Healthy Teens (29)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/raising-resilient-healthy-teens) - [Help with learning (19)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/help-with-learning) - [Communication and Children (18)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/communication-and-children) - [Raising Resilient Lower and Middle Schoolers (7)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/raising-resilient-lower-and-middle-schoolers) - [sustainability (4)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/sustainability) - [Building Self-Esteem in Teens (3)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/building-self-esteem-in-teens) - [How to get your teen to talk (3)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-get-your-teen-to-talk) - [How to Pick the Best Independent School in Philly (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-pick-the-best-independent-school-in-philly) - [How to manage the mood swings (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-manage-the-mood-swings) - [Student Life at Westtown (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/student-life-at-westtown) - [Westtown Picks (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/westtown-picks) - [Summer Camps (1)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/summer-camps) see all 975 Westtown Road West Chester, PA 19382 610.399.0123 [Contact Us](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=498#) - - - - [Apply Now](https://mbp.westtown.edu/SeniorApps/facelets/registration/loginCenter.xhtml?appId=AD) [Make A Gift](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=979) Westtown School, a Quaker Pre-K -12th grade co-ed, private, college preparatory day and boarding school, offers a challenging and diverse curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, service and social action. Since 1799, we have been committed to character education and innovation. We inspire and prepare our graduates to become stewards and leaders of a better world. [Apply Now](https://mbp.westtown.edu/SeniorApps/facelets/registration/loginCenter.xhtml?appId=AD) [Make A Gift](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=979) Westtown School, a Quaker Pre-K -12th grade co-ed, private, college preparatory day and boarding school, offers a challenging and diverse curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, service and social action. Since 1799, we have been committed to character education and innovation. We inspire and prepare our graduates to become stewards and leaders of a better world. 975 Westtown Road West Chester, PA 19382 610.399.0123 [Contact Us](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=498#) - - - - - [powered by finalsite](http://www.finalsite.com/)