Handling Teen Boy Behavior as a Parent

Co-authored by Wits End Parenting

Last Updated: August 6, 2024 Approved

The teenage years can be tough for boys—and frankly, for their parents—but your days don't have to be filled with attitude and anger. We'll help you work through even the toughest times with more kindness, patience, and understanding.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Raising a Teenage Boy

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Teenage boys need structure in their lives, overseen and directed by their parents. This structure is not due to a lack of trust, but rather the biological fact that teenage boys haven’t yet developed the brain function to make safe choices based on the possible consequences.^{[1]
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Research source} As the parent, work with your teenage son to develop a daily routine for them. Make sure he’s involved in the process, but ensure the end result is what he needs.
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Ensure he gets lots of sleep. Sleep is vital at any age, but teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every night in order to be functional. Ideally, they should develop a regular sleep pattern. A sleep pattern can help increase the quality of the sleep they get.^{[2]
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- Not getting enough sleep can slow down many of his abilities - such as the ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. It can also cause him to forget very simple items like someone’s phone number, or when homework is due.
- A lack of sleep can cause health problems, including acne. And can cause him to consume more unhealthy items like coffee or soda.
- Not getting enough sleep can also affect his behaviour, causing him to become irritable or angry faster than he would normally. He may end up being mean or rude to someone that he'll regret later.
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Make him feel like part of the family. The anger felt by a teenage boy may make him feel as if you (their parents) don’t trust him. You need to make him feel that he's trusted, and loved, while teaching him the importance of family and community.^{[3]
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- Encourage him to participate in family events and volunteer in the community.
- Teach him about responsible financial management.
- Show him how to be respectful of other people, their rights and their property.
- Rather than telling him what you want him to do, ask him. When making rules, allow him to be a part of the process.
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Communicate with him effectively. Teen boys need more than simple verbal reminders or instructions in order to comprehend what is needed or required of them. In addition to verbally providing him with instructions, also do the following:^{[4]
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- Make eye contact when providing instructions.
- Ask him to repeat what you’ve told them.
- Use short and simple sentences.
- Allow him to respond and ask questions.
- Don’t turn instructions into a lecture.
Responsibility can be learned in multiple ways. Many teenagers can learn responsibility from example - by watching and mimicking responsible people. But it can also be learned by making mistakes and incurring the consequences of irresponsible behaviour. As corny as it sounds, the statement “with power comes great responsibility” is very true. Teenagers need to learn that power, privilege and responsibility are all connected. The best place for them to learn this is from their parents.^{[5]
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Pick your battles. Teens, in general, change often. For example, their fashion changes with the trends. As a parent, you might not be able to keep up, and you might be shocked by some of the clothes your teen decides to wear. While you may be tempted to make rules regarding clothes, keep in mind that you may also want to save your battle for something much more important (like drinking, drugs, curfew, etc.).^{[6]
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- Another change teens experience often is related to their mood. Many of their mood swings are driven by the hormonal and developmental changes. In some cases, they may not have complete control over their emotions, or their reactions.
Teenage boys experience surges in their hormones (testosterone), which can have an effect on their ability to feel fear and causes them to loose their inhibitions. In turn, this can cause them to engage in dangerous activities simply because they aren’t able to process how dangerous it is. And, they tend to allow their emotions, especially anger, to rule their reactions.^{[8]
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In the teenage years, your son’s friends will most likely have more influence over his actions and behaviours than you do. It’s not because he doesn't love or respect you, he's just trying to find his way in the world.^{[9]
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HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.

Go to source} Try not to take this personally, and try not to get angry. Your anger towards him may cause him to withdraw further from you, and in turn, cause you to withdraw from him. He may not act like it, but he still need your support.^{[10]
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Teens are known for trying to push the limits, with you and with others. One way he may do this is by trying to get away with breaking the rules (e.g. how much later can he come home after curfew before you say something). It’s important that your enforce the rules you’ve made, or those limits will continue to be tested. It may also influence how your teen reacts to rules outside the home. You want to set a good example of how important rules are, and that they need to be followed.^{[11]
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Recognize the warning signs. ‘Normal’ teenage behaviour is one thing, but some teenage behaviour can indicate a much more serious problem. Watch for signs of more serious problems, and seek professional help as soon as possible.^{[12]
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- Extreme amounts of weight loss or weight gain.
- Ongoing sleep problems.
- Rapid, drastic and long-lasting changes in personality.
- Sudden change in close friends.
- Skipping school and falling grades.
- Any form of talk about suicide.
- Signs of smoking, or alcohol and drug abuse.
- Constantly getting in trouble at school, or with the police.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Being Friends with a Teenage Boy

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1
Know that going through puberty can change their point of view. Boys normally go through puberty between the ages of 11 and 16. It is during these years that they experience most of their physical changes (including growing taller and developing muscle). During and after these years they’ll normally start to develop their sexuality. They’ll start to look at themselves, and others, differently.^{[13]
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- If you’re a girl who is a friend of a teenage boy, he might start to treat you differently. On one hand because he’s experiencing changes in his emotions (and hormones). And on the other hand because your physical appearance is changing. This change doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, it is an unfortunate part of growing up.
- Teen boys can also become confused or unsure about their sexual orientation. He may need your help and support to figure out who he is.
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Read body language. Body language is the movements or positions of someone’s body that can show us how they’re feeling.^{[14]
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Research source} Being able to read your friend's body language can help you determine the best method by which to deal with him.
- The ability to read body language starts with the ability to observe. Practice reading body language by observing people in everyday settings like the mall, the bus or the coffee shop.^{[15]
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- Some examples of body language to watch out for in your friend:
  - If you see your friend walking the hallways at school with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched over, he’s probably feeling dejected.
  - If your friend often plays with his hair or adjusts his clothes in some way, he’s probably nervous about something.
  - If your friend is tapping or drumming his fingers against the table, or fidgeting a lot, he’s probably impatient about something.
  - If your friend is talking to someone either with his arms crossed in front of him, or holding something in front of him, he’s being defensive.
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Be empathetic. Empathy is the ability to understand and appreciate someone else’s feelings.^{[16]
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Research source} In other words, it’s understanding what it is like to be in their shoes. Empathy allows you to understand what someone else is going through, and sympathize with them. Being empathetic also helps build better relationships.^{[17]
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- Being empathetic includes being able to listen. It is difficult to understand how someone is feeling, if you don’t allow them to talk.
- When listening to your friend talk, think about how you would feel in the situation he's describing. Chances are, if you would feel a certain way, so would he.
- Some examples of how to be empathetic to your friend:
  - If your friend is telling you a story where he’s expressing a lot of different feelings, listen carefully and repeat back some of the things he’s telling you. It shows you’re listening and actually care about what he’s saying.
  - If your friend is giving his opinion about something, listen without judgement. Then ask yourself why he might feel that way. Put yourself in his shoes before jumping in with your own opinion.
  - If your friend had a particularly embarrassing experience that he doesn’t want to talk about, open up to him by telling him a story where you embarrassed yourself. Your friend will be more likely to share his own experiences if you’ve shared yours.
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Show compassion. The next step after empathy is compassion. Compassion is wanting to help someone who needs help.^{[18]
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Research source} Once you have gained an understanding for how your friend is feeling, you can determine what you need to do for him. Being compassionate is another way in which to build healthy relationships.^{[19]
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- Reach out to your friend and ask him if he needs anything. If he doesn't know what he needs, think about what you’d like in his situation and offer that.
- Show an interest in your friend and use your curiosity to ask questions and get to know him better.
- Be kind to your friend when you know he's being teased or treated badly by others. Don’t become part of the gossip or teasing yourself.
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Stay loyal. One major part of friendship is loyalty. Sticking with a friend through thick and thin, through good and bad. Not allowing rumours and gossip from other people to sway how you feel about your friends. It also means making sacrifices for your friends when they need something.
- Loyalty and friendship might be more than keeping their secrets, it may mean breaking their confidence in order to help them.
- Loyalty may also mean telling your friend something he doesn't want to hear, by being honest. The truth may hurt, but it may be what he needs.
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Do not bow to peer pressure. Your peers are those around the same age as you who have the same interests as you. Most of the time your peers and your friends are the same group, but not always. Because you hang out with your friends everyday, you will end up influencing each other in both good and bad ways.^{[20]
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Research source} However, when your peers (friends and otherwise) start to pressure you to do something you either do not want to do, or you know you should not do, it is considered a negative influence.^{[21]
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- The teenage boy you’re friends with may start to feel and act awkward. Other may attempt to pressure him into doing things he doesn’t want to do. As his friend, stand by him and support him through times like this.
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Beware of aggression. The body and the brain of a teenage boy is going through a lot turmoil and change. The brains of teenage boys are physically changing and it makes them more likely to act irresponsibly.^{[22]
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Go to source} In fact, these physical changes in the brain impact the teen's ability to respond emotionally with rage, fear, panic and anxiety. Add a large amount of testosterone to the mix, and you have the possibility of aggression and other negative behaviour.^{[23]
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- If your friend is arguing with you and appears to be becoming aggressive, stay calm.^{[24]
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- If an argument becomes too heated, and it doesn’t appear that your friend is going to calm down, walk away. Tell him you’ll continue the conversation in 30 minutes. Give him the opportunity to calm down before resuming the conversation.
- If your friend ever becomes violent, your safety comes first. Remove yourself from the situation if possible. If that’s not possible, and you fear for your safety, call 911.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Dating a Teenage Boy

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There’s no rule as to when it’s okay to start dating, it’s up to you (and your parents). If you’re ready and comfortable, and your parents are okay with it, it might be the right time. The important thing is not to feel pressured to start dating when you don’t want to.
Do you like him? Is he nice to you? Do you get along with him? Are you attracted to him? Do you get butterflies in your belly when he’s near? Before you start dating a guy, this may be all you have to go on. But it’s a good starting point. If you have a good feeling about him, and you’re ready, it’s worth going out on a couple of dates to get to know him better.
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Understand his weird behaviour around you. Between the changes that happen to girls and boys during puberty, girls actually have it a little easier. There’s a big time period when puberty can start for girls, but once it starts, it finishes up pretty quickly. Boys, on the other hand, can continue to grow and change into their 20s. This means that teenage boys are constantly feel awkward and disoriented. This is made especially worse if a boy finds himself growing at a rate slower than his friends.
- Boys experience a chance to their voice box in their teenage years, which will eventually make their voices deeper. But their voices, while this process is happening, may sound weird to them. They may be uncomfortable having a conversation with you simply because they’re embarrassed about their voice.
- This may not be something you want to think about, but one of the major changes a boy goes through in puberty is to his penis. The increase in size to his penis and scrotum, and the increase in hormone levels, can result in a lot of unwanted erections. Simply having a dirty thought about a girl might cause one. Unfortunately the boys can’t always control this, which may make them very uncomfortable about you.
- Boys begin to demonstrate more mature social skills around the age of 17. Before this, they may still be somewhat immature and childish. Because girls mature faster, they may find boys somewhat annoying until their mental maturation catches up.
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Go on a date. When a guy asks you out, it doesn’t mean he instantly becomes your boyfriend. Start off with one date and go from there. Dates can be anything you want them to be - going to a coffee shop, theatre, restaurant, sports event, etc. Whatever you decide to do for the date, it should be something you both enjoy.
- If the first date goes well, go on a second date, and so on. If the date doesn’t go well, that’s okay, maybe you weren’t meant for each other.
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Date for the right reasons. Some teenagers feel the need to date in order to get one-on-one attention, possibly because they have low self-esteem or self-confidence. Others feel the need to date in order to feel like they have control or power over someone else, or because they need the boy in order to gain some sort of status among their peers. None of these are good reasons to start dating.
- If these are the only reasons you can come up with as to why you want to date a boy, then it might not be a good idea to date him. You would just be using him in order to gain something for yourself, which isn’t fair to him.
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Be yourself. Whether you decide to go ahead and date a boy, or you’re just friends with one, remember to be yourself. Any boy who wants you because you’re pretending to be someone else, doesn’t actually want YOU. And even if the relationship works out at the beginning, it won’t be able to last. Eventually your true self will surface - you won’t be able to pretend to be someone else forever.
- You don’t have to date someone of equal intelligence. If you’re smarter than them, that’s okay. If they’re smarter than you, that’s okay. Don’t pretend to be dumb to make the boy feel better about himself - he’ll feel worse about himself when he finds out you’re only pretending.
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Recognize if there's love. When you first start dating a boy you may feel like you’re in love with him right away. It’s possible that its true, but it’s also possible it’s infatuation or attraction. Sometimes it will last, sometimes it won't. If it doesn’t last, it could be because real life interferes with your ideal view of each other. Annoying habits become apparent, and character flaws become obvious.
- Real love takes time and effort. And you will not end up in love with every guy you date.
- Love, in a relationship, involves attraction (physical chemistry), closeness (emotional connection) and commitment (dedication to each other).
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Recognize a healthy relationship. A healthy relationship lasts, even when the annoying habits of each person become apparent. A healthy relationship also includes: being respectful of each other, and each other’s time; learning to give and receive; being able to share all feelings, good and bad; being able to listen to each other and support each other’s ideas and needs.
- If you feel any of the items of a healthy relationship are missing between you and your boyfriend, talk to him about it. If you’re able to resolve the issue, that’s an excellent sign the relationship has staying power. If you’re unable to resolve the issue, it may be time to move on.
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Conclude if it’s time to breakup. Not all relationships work out. People may grow apart gradually, or they may determine rather quickly that they weren’t meant for each other. Regardless of when you or your boyfriend determine it’s time to move on, don’t consider your relationship a waste of your time. Every relationship you have is a valuable learning experience.^{[25]
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- Any relationship has to meet the needs of both people involved. If your boyfriend isn’t meeting your needs, or you aren’t meeting your boyfriend’s needs, it’s time to move on.
- Breaking up isn’t fun, and you will likely feel horrible, but these feelings will eventually go away. Don’t sacrifice your long-term happiness for short-term bliss.

How Can You Transition From Being a Parent Of a Child To a Teenager?

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Are teenage meltdowns normal?

Wits End Parenting
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Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies.

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Most teenagers will try to test their boundaries. However, if a teenage boy isn't being respectful of other people, doesn't seem to understand consent, and isn't invested in their own self-care, it could eventually become a problem that is dangerous to other people. Seek help from a professional.

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What can I do with my out-of-control teenager?

Wits End Parenting
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Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies.

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A lot of times when teenagers start acting out, it's because they're having a hard time in their environment. For instance, problems at home can mean your child is being bullied at school, and vice versa. Counseling might be a good option.

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Why is my teenage son so quiet?

Wits End Parenting
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Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies.

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If a teenager suddenly becomes extremely withdrawn and won't talk about why, if they suddenly stop taking care of their hygiene, or if they say they're going to hurt themselves or someone else, you really need professional help. Even if they're just saying it to upset you, you can still use an outside perspective to deal with that.

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