Self confidence is a very important attribute for teenagers to reach their independence. It helps the teen to find themselves and to work on who they may become one day. Parents can play a big role in helping their teens become that independent, self confident person.

Teaching, guiding and praising, a child continues through out the time they live at home and even into adulthood. As parents, it is important to know that once they start school and are no longer toddlers the job continues. It is even more important once they get into school as more influences will come at them. Influences that parents, especially new parents, may not even be aware of.

Listening to what the teen has to say and responding appropriately teaches them to have opinions and be able to communicate. Giving them self worth and making them feel important and that they are part of what ever is going on in their school or family life. This also gives the parent clues to what is happening when they are not in the home environment. It is important that they are not belittled for having an opinion differant then the parents.

Being a teenager is a difficult time. They are in the process of seeing who they are and looking into the future for what they may do or become. Peer pressure is ever looming in the background. It is so important for parents and family to support them. Make them feel like they are accepted for who they are and if differences stand out, it will help them to accept themselves. Telling them that we all have differences and those are the things that make us unique compared to anyone else.

Trust is the one thing that will keep a teenager wanting to come to their parents with issues. Letting a teenager know that their parent is willing to listen is a gateway to their trust to other people in their life as they mature and become adults. They need to know that their parents are trustworthy. At this time in their life overreacting to things they say or do makes them feel that they can not come to you with things you wish they had, come to you with.

Helping a teen to develp self-confidence actually starts when they are toddlers and maybe even before that. But it certainly can be even further develped in their teens. Being there and encouraging them to seek out activities that will give them the confidence to explore new things and make new friends, will help along the road to independence.