As every parent knows as your kids get older their mode of communication changes as does their terminology, and with teenager’s talking or TEENSPEAK as I call it, it is at its most confusing for a parent. They use words in ways that would make an English teacher cringe.

My daughter is a perfect example. One of her favorite words is “like” and I have learned that this word also has more than one meaning and that depends on the tone of voice or where it is used in a sentence.

One of the ways that the word “like” is used is as a sentence break as if her mind hasn’t quite caught up with her mouth. Here is one example. “You know we were like hanging out in the cafeteria and like we were “like” so gross”.

Another way it is used for example is as a way to say that s guy is really cute. An example of this is “He is “like” SOOOO cute”. Another example of this is “look at that guy he is “like” so cool”.

Yet another way the word “like” is used is as a form of saying that it is really important that I believe her. Here is an example of this. “You know “like” it’s the truth”, or “hey “like” this is serious”. Again remember that the tonality of the voice is the key.

Of course there are many other words that teens use, but I thought that we should start out with something easy for the first blog on TEENSPEAK and work our way up to the harder words and phrases that are part of the TEENSPEAK code.

The reason for parents discussing TEENSPEAK on this blog is because in order for us to communicate with our teenagers effectively we need to understand what the heck they are saying.

For me it is a lot like learning a foreign language, but without any of the travel that you would normally enjoy going abroad. It is however a real learning experience traveling the potholed road known as your teenager’s mind.

Have a terrific Tuesday and thanks for visiting Parents R Us again! I will be back again with another TEENSPEAK blog as soon as I can figure out what more of these teen words means, LOL, CIAO4NOW!!!!!

P.S. check out the link at the bottom of this post to help you decode TEENSPEAK.

http://www.teenchatdecoder.com/

Kids are well known for coming up with questions that totally floor their parents. Sometimes their questions are like a curve ball that leave you fumbling for the right answer. If you are a parent, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Unfortunately, many parents make the mistake of avoiding the question or giving the wrong answer, shutting down communication and sending the wrong message to their kids.

So, how can you answer your kids' questions and learn to appropriately talk to your kids? It's important that we learn how to talk "with" kids instead of "at" your kids. Here are some excellent tips that can help.

Be Respectful of Their Question
First of all, you need to be respectful of the question they ask. It may be tempting to laugh or act astounded at their question. However, you need to remember that it's amazing that they came to YOU for the answer in the first place. You don't want to make your child feel stupid. If you do, then they may never come back to you again.

Let your kids know that their question isn't stupid. Reassure them that you are happy to answer questions. Always make time to talk. This opens up the door for further communication in the future.

Ensure You Answer the "REAL" Question
Sometimes the question that your kid asks isn't what actually spoken. Figure out what they really want to know before you give them an answer. This can help you ensure you answer the right question.

Know When to Keep Quiet
It's also important that you know when you should keep quiet. Parents have a tendency to say more than they should. Kids can't absorb things that fast. Give them a bit of information to think about, then stop. You can talk to them more later.

These simple tips can help you talk to your kids in any situation. Communication with your kids is important, so remember these tips to make sure you can keep those lines of communication open.