What teens need privacy from their parents and why you must respect it

Privacy is certainly a fundamental human need. We all require it from time to time to work on ourselves, analyse, imagine and visualise certain life aspects without any interruption. Just like adults, kids too need adequate me-time to introspect and gather their thoughts. Many times parents do not find it important to give solitude to their kids since they find teen’s secrecy inappropriate. However, privacy and trust go hand in hand. To build a healthy bonding with your kids you should respect and trust their private life so that they don’t crave further and throw tantrums to gain it.

If every single time you invade your kid’s privacy it leads to trust issues. While transitioning from a kid to a teen there are certain hormonal changes that lead your little one to try unusual adventures, where a parent’s guidance is especially significant. But concurrently you should also consider that, by being overprotective you’ll anyhow spoil the situation. If you’ll trust and respect them, it will help your kids to grow as happy, healthy and independent teens. And at any moment if you feel insecure and suspect that your child is into something unsuitable or hiding something, then always investigate first and then barge into their lives.

Someone rightly said that “to err is human!”. Everyone in life makes wrong decisions and experiences failure but that does not mean life ends there. We learn from our mistakes and so do the kids, which gradually makes us pro and vigilant in decision making. Allow your kids to enjoy their private time, and if they stumble due to incorrect choices, it will ultimately make them mature and wise to face the challenges life throws in front of them. All you can do is act like a friend, support them, guide them and accept the way they are.

As a parent, if you follow the below-given points then you’re heading in the right direction.

• Allow them to have secret conversations with their friends or cousins.
• Knock their room’s door before getting in (they might be changing clothes at times)
• Avoid checking their phone, tablet or computer.
• Let them be alone sometimes.
• Avoid checking their school bags frequently (you can check bags in case of a complaint from the school or tuition or suspect something fishy)
• Don’t touch their diaries, scrapbooks, slam books or photo albums without their permission.

If ever you smell danger or suspect about your kid being prey to social or online bullying, abuse or any other violence. Instead of directly putting up your fear in front of your kids, try talking to their friends, classmates or teachers. However, if you find unexplained bruises or marks on your child’s body often or he/she avoids any kind of socialising, then find it as a warning sign of depression, drug or alcohol abuse or other mental issues. In such a case your child definitely needs help.