Communication Skills for Teens: A Complete Guide

You’re definitely concerned about your teen’s communication skills. Be confident that you have taken the first step towards your destination.

The teenage years are life-making and life-shattering years. If they put life on a path to success, men fall into the category of high achievers. And if they put it on the path of failure, then the life ahead is ruined.

And turning them on the path to success is not difficult at all; it just requires a little focus and practice.

In this guide, we’ll explore the world of “communication skills for teens.” These skills aren’t just about talking; they’re about expressing thoughts, understanding others, and building meaningful connections.

Understanding Communication Skills

No one can recognize our thoughts and feelings unless we tell them. Now it depends on us whether we convey our message to their ears or take it to their hearts. Communication skills are the tools that help us convey our thoughts and feelings to others.

Communication skills are a two-way street:

It involves not only conveying your feelings to others but also listening to others’ words and understanding the feelings behind the words. Imagine a scenario where a teen wants to share their ideas with a group or needs help from a teacher. Strong communication skills make these interactions smoother.

Real-life Examples: A teen with good communication skills might say:

• In a debate competition, the moments when communication skills shine: “Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to vote for our side, because we have shown you that ‘the benefits of…”
• In a group chat, “Hey, I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling down. Do you want to talk about it? I’m here for you. And by the way, you’re awesome; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
• In volunteer work, the moments when communication skills make a difference. A teen might say, “Thank you so much for your generous donation. You are making a positive impact on the world.”
• In a classroom discussion, where teens confidently raise their hands, share thoughts, and listen actively to their classmates. These are the points at which life tends to turn itself into a success story. 

Types of Communication Skills for Teens

Verbal Communication:

When you say something to convey something. Communication through words is known as verbal communication. Teens should participate in the following activities to improve their verbal communication skills: 

• Participation in class discussions
• Asking questions Actively
• Giving presentations with confidence
• Resolving conflicts
• Online discussions

Nonverbal Communication:

Sometimes we don’t need to say anything to convey our message. This is situational communication through gestures, facial expressions, and body language.

Sometimes, what we don’t say speaks volumes. Our eyes reveal our situation. Our facial expressions reveal our worries and our joys. Our feelings and emotions begin to appear without saying anything.

Teens often rely on nonverbal cues to understand others and express themselves.

Here are some examples of nonverbal cues:

• Body language
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Posture
• Eye contact
• Tone of voice
• And even the use of space

Real-life examples of nonverbal communication:

• When you meet someone for the first time. Shake hands warmly without saying anything and smile. It gives an impression; what is it?
• When a teenager taps their foot rapidly and glances at the clock during a meeting. It gives an impression; what is it?
• When a young adult stands with their hands on their hips, with an upright posture, and maintains direct eye contact. It gives an impression; what is it?

The role of communication skills in teens lives

Think of an area of life that cannot benefit from communication skills. Do you have any such areas in mind?

Adolescence is undoubtedly a complex phase of life, and communication skills play an even more important role in this phase.

Good communication and confidence go hand in hand. Both of these are the most important building blocks of a high-achieving person’s success formula. They can use communication skills to resolve conflicts, apologize, forgive, and support others.

Why it Matters:

Communication is the process that involves speaking, listening, writing, reading, and non-verbal cues such as body language and facial expressions.

When teens can communicate well, what else they can do well, let’s see.

How do communication skills enable teens to say what they want? 

When young people can communicate their hearts well with others, they avoid misunderstandings and hence conflicts. They can also stand up for themselves and their values and say no to peer pressure or unwanted situations. 

For example, a teen who can say, “I don’t want to drink alcohol; it’s bad for my health, and I have an exam tomorrow,” can avoid getting into trouble or harming themselves.

Related Article: Conflict resolution activities for teens

Communication skills teach teens to handle social stuff better.

Teens have to build and maintain relationships. They also have to deal with different kinds of emotions. They have to manage anger. They have to face sadness or frustration as a part of life. This is where communication skills come into play.

For example, a teen who can say, “I’m sorry for hurting your feelings; I was having a bad day, and I took it out on you,” can repair and fill a friendship with trust.

Communication skills help teens do better in school.

Communication skills for teens help them improve academic performance. But the question is, how? Let’s see! 

• Good communication skills encourage teens to participate in class discussions.
• Communication skills enable teenagers to confidently ask for help, when and where needed.
• Communication skills for teens help them to set an achieve life goals.
• Communication skills for teens build confidence to give feedback.
• Communication skills greatly facilitate teens working in groups.
• Communication skills for teens help them seek opportunities for learning and growth.

For example, a teen who can say, “I’m interested in learning more about graphic design; can you recommend some resources or courses for me?” can pursue their passion and develop their skills.

How to teach teens Communication Skills?

Teaching communication skills to teens can be challenging but also rewarding. 

Here are some tips to help you:

Practice active listening

Active listening is not just about listening to the spoken words; it is also about understanding the meaning and feeling the emotions behind those words.

For teens, here are some tips to practice active listening:

1. Use nonverbal signals to indicate that you are paying attention and interested 
2. Listen for the message and the emotions
3. Don’t interrupt, judge, or jump to conclusions
4. After the speaker has finished, ask questions and clarify
5. Reflect and empathize; for example, you can say, “I’m happy for you” or “I’m sorry that happened to you,” etc.

Use “I statements” to express your feelings

“I statements” are a way of expressing your feelings and needs without blaming or accusing the other person. You should say, “I feel hurt when you ignore my calls” instead of, “You are so rude for not answering me.”

The basic structure of an “I statement” is:

1. I feel… (your emotion)
2. when… (the situation or behavior that triggers your emotion)
3. because… (the reason why you feel that way)
4. I need… (your request or expectation)

For example, you could say, “I feel frustrated when you interrupt me while I’m speaking because it makes me feel like you don’t care about what I have to say. I need you to listen to me and wait for your turn to talk.”

Model good communication skills yourself for your teens

You should keep in mind that children learn by observing. Whatever they see you doing, it’s natural that they’ll try to copy.

• You have to tell them the importance of good communication skills. This will tend to reserve a place in their mind for that particular thing.
• You have to provide them with observations related to confident body language, active listening, and empathetic behavior. This will make their learning path clear, bright, and easy to follow.
• If you want to make them polite, you have to make them observe how to be polite.
• If you want to teach them respect, you have to show them how to be respectful.
• If you want to teach them confident body language, you need to repeatedly have them observe how to have confident body language.
• Avoid yelling, rolling your eyes, or using sarcasm or insults. For example, you could say, ‘Thank you for helping me with the dishes. I appreciate your cooperation.’

This is the best way; whatever quality you want to add to their personality, can easily become a part of their nature.

Avoid dismissing their opinions

Self-esteem has a specific room in the life of every human being. When you dismiss your teen’s opinions, you are sending them a message that their thoughts and feelings are not valuable. This can damage their self-esteem and leads to self-doubt. They may feel that you don’t respect or understand them.

Practical ways to avoid dismissing your teens’ opinions:

• Listen actively and ask open-ended questions. For instance, you could say, ‘I’m interested in hearing more about why you think that way. Can you tell me more?
• Acknowledge and validate them. For example, you could say, “I appreciate your opinion on this issue. I can see that you are passionate and care about it. I may not agree with you, but I respect your point of view.”
• Have a constructive and respectful dialogue with them. You could say, ‘I understand why you have this opinion, and I respect it. Here is my opinion and why I think this way. Maybe we can find a way to meet in the middle or agree to disagree.”

Teach your teens different communication styles

There are several different communication styles.

Passive communication is when we avoid expressing our thoughts, feelings, and needs, or we do so in a weak or unclear way. Passive communicators may say things like: ‘I don’t mind, whatever you want.’ or ‘It’s fine, I’m not upset.’ Passive communicators may appear timid, submissive, or indifferent.

Aggressive communication is when we express our thoughts, feelings, and needs in a forceful, hostile, or disrespectful way. Aggressive communicators may say things like: ‘You are stupid; you don’t know anything.’ or ‘Do what I say, or else.’ Aggressive communication can lead to conflict, anger, and alienation.

Passive-aggressive communication is when we express our thoughts, feelings, and needs in an indirect, sarcastic, or manipulative way.

Passive-aggressive communicators may say things like: ‘Fine, do whatever you want; see if I care.’ or ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were so busy.’

Passive-aggressive communication can lead to confusion, distrust, and aggression. Passive-aggressive communicators may appear polite but insincere, or cooperative but resentful.

Assertive communication is when we express our thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear, respectful, and confident way.

Assertive communicators may say things like: ‘I think this is a good idea, and here is why.’ or ‘I feel hurt by what you said, and I would like you to apologize.’ Assertive communication can lead to mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation.

Teach your teens to be assertive, not aggressive or passive

Assertive communication is the most effective and healthy communication style.

Assertive communication can benefit teens to:

• Stand up for themselves and their rights
• Negotiate and compromise with others
• Share their opinions and ideas
• Resolve conflicts and problems

Tips:

• Model assertive communication yourself, and praise your teen.
• Help your teen identify their own communication style effectively and the communication styles of others.
• Encourage them to use ‘I’ statements, such as ‘I think’, ‘I feel’, or ‘I need’, instead of ‘you’ statements, such as ‘you are’, ‘you should’, ‘you must’.
• Teach them to use nonverbal cues that match their verbal message, such as eye contact, facial expressions, body posture, and tone of voice.

Provide constructive feedback and praise

Here are some tips on how to give constructive feedback and praise effectively and how to avoid common pitfalls:

• Be specific and clear. Use examples and evidence to support your feedback and praise.
• Avoid vague or general statements, such as: ‘You did a good job.’ or ‘You need to improve.’ Instead, say: ‘You did a good job explaining your main points and using visual aids.’ or ‘You need to improve your eye contact and voice projection.’
• Be respectful and supportive. Use a positive and friendly tone and language.
• Avoid harsh or negative words, such as: ‘You are lazy.’ or ‘You are hopeless.’ Instead, say: ‘You could work more efficiently if you plan your time and prioritize your tasks.’ or ‘You have the potential to do better if you practice more and seek help when you need it.’

Avoid insincere or exaggerated praise, such as: ‘You are the best.’ or ‘You are perfect.’ Instead, say: ‘You are very talented.’ or ‘You are doing great.’

Overcoming Teenage Communication Challenges

Shyness and social anxiety:

Shyness is also one of the natural human emotions. Different fears and self-doubts trigger shyness. Many teens struggle with shyness or social anxiety, which can make communication difficult.

Shyness forces a person to stay in their comfort zone, and it widens the comfort zone.

To overcome this communication challenge, teens have to:

1. Take small steps out of your comfort zone.
2. Start initiating conversations with classmates
3. Join extracurricular activities
4. Practice social skills

These four practical steps will gradually transform shyness into confidence and provide the foundation for better communication skills for teens. 

Conflict Resolution:

Related Article: Conflict resolution worksheets

Life is not possible to imagine without conflicts, but resolving them peacefully requires effective communication.

To master conflict resolution skills, read this comprehensive article about conflict resolution for teens.

Body image and self-esteem:

When teenagers feel self-conscious or insecure about their appearance, their self-confidence slips like sand from their hands. Because of this, instead of improving their communication skills, they are adversely affected. 

Here is the complete article about teenage confidence building activities with practical tips to overcome low self-esteem. 

Conclusion

We have tried our best to bring you authentic information by examining the topic of conflict resolution for teens from various angles. It is a very important and indispensable skill for your teen’s life.

We talked about different types of communication skills for teens. We talked about the challenges teenagers face along the way. We discussed various effective activities to overcome these challenges. We also show you easy, simple, and amazingly beneficial ways to get your kids on the path to communication skills.

Keep in mind that if you want to get some output, you must give some input first.

Mastering communication skills will definitely take time and practice. This is not an overnight job. Keep in mind that consistency and commitment are the keys to success.

To master communication skills, adopt any of the methods we’ve suggested that suit your teen’s routine or personality. And continue to step on the path to a better future for your life.