Mom says pretend play is the ‘secret’ to getting her angsty teen to open up

Summary: Alyson found a clever secret to getting her angsty 14-year-old daughter to talk: pretend play. When her teen had a meltdown over a Christmas Eve outfit, Alyson pretended to be a fancy shopkeeper offering her treats. It completely changed her daughter's mood!

Psychologists explain that direct questions often make kids defensive. However, playing together actually helps parent and child brains "sync up" on the same wavelength. This makes teens feel safe enough to share their feelings. So, the next time your teen is moody, try playing a funny role, like a high-end spa worker, and watch them happily spill the tea.

For more details, see Upworthy at upworthy.com/mom-says-that-pretend-play-is-the-secret/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mom-says-that-pretend-play-is-the-secret (opens in new tab)