The teenage years, as we all know, are some of the most if not the most challenging years of our lives. Your body and mind are changing and you start to feel like more of an adult even though, we all know, teens are just big kids. However, this does not mean we should continue treating our teens as if they were four years old anymore. They are changing and the list of emotions they are feeling in a day is endless. Once you add the challenges of modeling to the mix, it is very understandable why they may seem difficult to deal with at times. Don’t worry, with the right amount of patience, anything is possible. Here are some of the ways you can help your teen navigate these years with ease.
Do your best to remember what it was like when you were a struggling teenager. Those years are tough and you know it, you were a teen once too. The pressure to fit in on top of being a model is tough, and so you’ll have to be there for them when they need it. They may ask for advice but give it anyway. Sometimes those stories resonate with teens more than we realize. They love hearing that they aren’t alone in this and that it’s simply a part of life. Discussions on what it was like being a teen can also be funny for them since they’ll get to hear about what life was like when you were their age.
It seems like such an obvious choice but it is surprising how much time goes by that we don’t actually sit down and talk to those we love privately. Sit down and have regular one-on-one conversations with your teen. Ask them how they are feeling about modeling, school, life, etc. While they may not give you all the information on the first chat, eventually they’ll open up more and more. This will help them in their career because if they are at peace inside, they’ll have more confidence going to auditions and on jobs.
While being hands-on is a key approach, you also have to know when to leave them alone. The teenage years are where kids start to feel a larger sense of independence and want to handle things by themselves. Continuously helping them through it may only make things worse. Allow them to start handling things themselves and they will flourish. Be there for guidance, but allow them to make mistakes and pick themselves up. This is the time that will form great habits as far as their work ethic goes.
This goes along with the last tip but we need to remember that some things are just not worth fighting over. How they dress at school, their choice in music or tv shows, things like that need to be left alone. They are going to change their style a lot over the years, and hand picking what you want them to wear is just going to create other bigger arguments. This is where you can simply let go and let them figure out what they like. This also will help their modeling since they’ll be thinking about fashion for themselves.
The teenage years are never going to be perfect, but they don’t have to be a struggle. Allow your teen to experience it the way they have to and be there for support whenever they need it. Give them space when they want it and pick them up when you know they are struggling. Everything will work out great in the end, and they’ll understand it’s just a part of life that everyone goes through. And if you’re looking for a home for your child model and their many talents, visit Bensimon Models & Talent. Throughout our history, we’ve been there for every one of our models and their families, from youth, through adolescence and beyond.
