Ep. 122: How to Connect with Your Teen with Chris Thurber

<p><a href= "http://sunshine-parenting.com/ep-122-how-to-connect-with-your-teen-with-chris-thurber" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Show notes & links available here.</a></p> <p>In this episode, I'm chatting with Dr. Chris Thurber, a legendary trainer in the camp industry and a clinical psychologist who works at Phillips Exeter Academy, about how important it for parents to connect with their teens. Chris has developed online training programs for educators and youth leaders around the world and many of the best practices and concepts he teaches apply to parents. We also discuss how the skills kids learn at camp can help them to thrive in life.</p> <h2>Big Ideas</h2> <ul> <li>Even one summer working at a summer camp can be so valuable for the experience gained and training in relational, leadership, and communication skills.</li> <li>Much of the training camp counselors receive is helpful for teachers and parents. <ul> <li>Thurber's Tic-Tac advice: Expend as little energy as possible, “no more energy than a Tic-Tac.” Take a break from lecturing or nagging and instead use the low-energy responses of a look, a point, or just saying the child’s name.</li> </ul> </li> <li>In our society today, it is harder than ever to be an adolescent. One big reason is the competitiveness of education. Colleges are getting more applications from students around the world as high school graduation rates continue to climb.</li> <li>Parents and students should consider alternatives to college such as apprenticeships and vocational training.</li> <li>Parents need to have more conversations with their kids--girls and especially boys--about their emotions.  Expressing empathy helps to alleviate the pressure that kids are feeling these days. When parents minimize or downplay their feelings, kids do not feel connected.</li> </ul> <h2>Quotes:</h2> <p>Chris: "The reason I think <a href= "https://sunshine-parenting.com/happy/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer">Happy Campers</a> is a brilliant book is you've taken the lesson