12 Tips for Teaching Your Teenagers to Deal with Rejection

Rejection is a part of life that everyone has to deal with at some time or another. The teenage years can be especially tough when comes to not being accepted by peers. For this reason, it is important that you teach you teenagers how to deal with rejection early on. While they will likely learn how to deal with it through common experiences, do what you can to help the process along. Below are 12 tips for teaching your teenagers to deal with rejection.

Be a shoulder to lean on. This can be tough. You want to be involved but not so involved that they feel like you are invading their space. Constantly remind them that you are there as a shoulder to lean on if they need you but don’t constantly question them about how they are feeling. Keep your distance while staying close.

Let them know you understand. Teenagers will think that you “just don’t understand” what they are going through. Try to get on their level and let them know that you understand. Take them out to dinner and casually bring up the situation without going overboard and embarrassing them.

Explain to them your past experiences. A great way to teen you kids how to deal with rejection is to fall back on your experiences as a teenager. Don’t be afraid to bring up old memories in an effort to help.

Don’t try to shield them from rejection. Realize that rejection is a part of life. While it can be particularly tough as a teenager, it is something that you child will go through at some point in life. Allow it to be a learning experience instead of trying to shield them from rejection. Rejection is a fact of life.

Use positive praise. Rejection can be tough on self esteem. Find ways to praise your teenager when times seem particularly tough. Whether it’s giving them extra allowance for being helpful or buying them a new outfit for completing chores, find small ways to praise him and build up self esteem.

If the problem gets too bad, consider moving them to a new school. You don’t want to teach them to run away from their problems, but as a parent you must monitor it. It your teenager isn’t coping well with constant rejection, you may have to make a change.

Let them know that this time will pass. It is important that you keep reminding your child that this time will pass. Teenage years are tough but only last a short time.

Don’t let your anger show. As a parent, you can get angry when your child is hurt. Try to hide your anger in an effort to smooth over the situation. Don’t hunt down the person who has hurt your child. This is something that he has to work out on his own. As bad as you may want to, try to suppress your anger towards people who hurt your children.

Get them involved in an activity they enjoy to help meet new people. Find out what your teen is good at and get the involved. Perhaps he or she will enjoyed playing for an organized sports club that has new and different people involved.

Don’t get too involved in the situation. As stated earlier, it is extremely important that you know your boundaries. Parents often make matters worse by being too consumed with the rejection. Keep your distance.

Connect them with other teens that are going through the same thing. Encourage them to reach out to help groups or other teenagers who may be experiencing the same thing. There are many websites devoted to helping teens deal with rejection.

Beware if the problem gets worse. Always monitor the situation. Teens who struggle with rejection will withdraw themselves. This can quickly lead to a dangerous situation.

Use the 12 tips listed above to help your teenagers deal with rejection. Remember that this is something that many teens experience. As a parent, do your best to minimize the effects that rejection can have on your child.

Gagan is freelance writer working for Murano Glass Gifts.