How does one prevent that single incident wherein your teenager goes berserk? It’s simple, look out for signs if you find your teenager getting aggressive by the day, whether it means beating up his younger sibling, kicking dogs or bullying people, act now. Here’s how:

Explain situations: Try and make your teenager realize how it feels if he is in the shoes of his younger brother. We often fail to realize how easily teenagers realize their mistake once they understand the cause of their frustration.

Appeal directly to your teen: In this situation, sit down and talk to him calmly, like a friend. Tell him about the mistakes you made as a teenager. Laugh at the embarrassing moments you faced and then ask him what’s bothering him.

Encourage your teenager to express himself verbally: Talking helps in these situations, therefore, encourage your teenager to tell you everything, from the most embarrassing to mundane incidents. This will make him friendlier with you and in the future he will always come to you first in any situation.

Ease tension through humor because laughing is the natural medicine to make one laughs. Kidding the teenager out of a temper tantrum or outburst offers him an opportunity to save face. However, it is important to distinguish between face saving humor and sarcasm, teasing or ridicule. Remember, your teenager is at an awkward age, if he ever thinks that you’re making fun of him, all communication channels may close.

Give your teenager the space he needs to breathe at this age. Don’t be overprotective at this age. It is important for children to have opportunities fr fun, play, physical exercise and unrestricted movement, both at home and at school. Have some faith in him or her so that he or she can do something on his or her own.

Teenagers, while making their way through adolescence, recklessly traverse through paths dotted with issues like alcohol and drug use, eating disorders, violence, depression, suicide, peer pressure and broken relationships. Handling a teenager, more so, a difficult one, is like treading on eggshells all the time. But it’s not impossible. Tact, a sense of humor and loads of love, help mould your teenager to be happy and at peace with himself.