If relationships are somewhat strained with your teen, good times together can be healing for everyone. Good memories and laughter can cushion the blows of the hard situations. Fun time together can take many different forms. What's important is that they happen regularly. These experiences can be as simple as family nights at home, cooking a meal together, walks or a bike ride on a beautiful day, or more elaborate things like day trips or family vacations.
Teens can be fascinating people when the distractions of everyday life are removed.
Place a premium on having dinner together as a family. Sure, schedules are too tight and scattered with outside commitments like athletic practices, work and school obligations, and community responsibilities. However, dinners together at least several times a week can do a lot to pull families closer and create time for everyone to check in and catch up with each other. This may not be as hard as it seems. Sit down together and brainstorm things you can do together.