Teenagers Resist Talking on the Phone, But There’s Hope! Try This! by Cindy Hlywa

Teens Parenting
6 years ago

Teenagers Resist Talking on the Phone, But There’s Hope! Try This!

Apparently, the more teens text, tweet and Snapchat, the less they feel capable of living in the moment (read: scary!). It seems that typical teenage self-awareness makes scripting a message feel safer than reading and responding to the nuances of spoken language. The good news: we can teach our kids the communication skills that phone calls with adults require. Here are some tactics to try if your teen fits the typical text/tweet/Snapchat profile: 

  • Start small. Help your child make a doctor’s appointment by providing a script of what to say, preferably via text message, that can be read as the call is on speaker mode. 
  • Remind your child that speaking to adults on the phone may be easier than doing it face to face. 
  • Explain that on the spectrum of “communication vulnerability,” face-to-face is on one end while digital communication is on the other. Phone calls are safely somewhere in the middle. 
  • Suggest that it’s like taking medicine; the sooner they do it, the sooner it’s done.
  • Remind your child that a phone call yields information faster than a text sometimes. Next time you get the text requesting permission for something, hold off responding. Case in point.

Do your kids text or call when they need something?

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Donna John
My kids are all in their 20s, and 95 percent of the time they still text me if they need something. If I don't respond quick enough and it's time-sensitive, they'll call. I actually get nervous when they call me first because I assume something's wrong. lol I'm bad about it, too. We probably all need to pick up the phone more often (and dial a number) these days. Thanks for sharing this, Cindy Hlywa !
Elisa Schmitz
You are so right, Cindy Hlywa . Talking on the phone is so last generation! "Help your child make a doctor’s appointment by providing a script of what to say, preferably via text message, that can be read as the call is on speaker mode." I have actually done this for my kids, and realized how sad it is that they need a script. Wow, what has tech done to this generation?? Yikes!
Ann Marie Patitucci
This is so spot on, Cindy Hlywa ! My son is going on 12 and have not gotten him a cell phone for several reasons, this being one of them. Great advice!

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