We all know how tough parenting is. Kids don’t come with a manual. Every child is different. And there are many phases they will go through from birth to their teen years. Here are nine Tips on Having Tough Conversations With Your Kids.

At some point, we will have to have some tough conversations with our kids: why you can’t get them that cute puppy, why they need to be nice to their sister, tackling peer pressure, or learning to achieve five whole minutes without a cell phone in hand.

Addressing tough topics with your kids head-on can be hard. Here are some tips for each topic you might have to address.

Tips on Having Tough Conversations With Your Kids

1. Sibling Rivalry – Kids argue for lots of different reasons. My approach is simple. Treat your kids as individuals, praise them when they get it right, let kids work out their own battles, be available for mediation, and emphasize what they have in common. Read more about this in my post on How to Stop Your Kids From Fighting.
2. Responsibility – The best way to develop responsibility is to give them responsibility. Even though summer should feel different than the school year, I still require my oldest to spend time / play with his younger sister and keep his chores. This includes making his bed and general upkeep of his room, vacuuming the common areas, emptying the trash bins in each room, and taking the trash can to the street each week. More tips about Children and Responsibility here.
3. Following the Rules – Rules are put in place to keep you safe. Period. If your child is at home alone and someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, the best course of action is to pretend that they aren’t home. Other rules for being home alone might include checking in with you when they arrive home, not bringing others home from school with them, not answering the door and telephone, and rules about what to eat (not all junk food), what to do (homework, not video games) and what to do in an emergency. More tips: Keeping Kids Safe, Especially When Staying at Home.
4. Self-Love – So many kids lack the confidence to start a new hobby, try a new sport, or make a new friend. They are often waiting for someone to tell them it’s okay to do something. I would encourage you to tell your kids and any other kids you have influence over that it’s okay to come up with an idea and give it a try. Don’t let fear or waiting for permission hold them back. More tips on empowerment here.
5. Teamwork – I don’t know if it’s normal or if our society has somehow encouraged it, but so often we see other as competition. Maybe it’s the small number of slots offered or maybe it’s the need to be in the spotlight. But, we can often accomplish so much more by working as a team.
6. Peer Pressure – As tweens and teens spend time with friends and older kids, they can be exposed to things like tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. I believe it is important to talk to our kids about these topics early before their opinions are heavily shaped and influenced by their peers.
7. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) – With so many tweens and teens having cell phones, most families having internet at home, and the constant practice of oversharing, kids are striving to fit in, be invted, and to have everything they see. One way to help your kids realize they have many things to be thankful for is to show them that there are other kids who are in need. Take them along when you donate old toys and clothes, choose a charity to support and do it together with your kid. More tips on How to Talk to Your Kids About Safe Internet Use and How to Encourage Your Children to Be Thankful.
8. Self Improvement – In my post Why Moms Make Great Entrepreneurs, I shared that I learn skills at work that I can apply at home like budgeting, delegating and teamwork. I also have experience as a mom that I can bring to work like being a leader, taking responsibility, multitasking and learning the most efficient way to get something done with limited resources. These same principles apply to kids, too. They are more excited to learn when they see how homework assignments transfer to real life skills.
9. Body Image – Somewhere, somehow kids become self-conscious of their bodies. Often, seeing pudge and ugliness where no one else can. These inadequate feelings snowball and they begin scrutinizing every blemish or misplaced strand of hair. Here are Four Things to Know About Your Teen’s Body Issues and ways you can help.

More Parenting Tips:

• One Simple Way to Limit Screen Time
• Five Genius Ways to Keep Your Kids Off Their Phones During Vacation
• How To Help Your Children Deal With Death
• How to Find Quality Time with the Kids

The best conversations happen when we’re hanging out, driving in the car, or watching tv. You would be surprised how easy it is to kickstart a dialogue by watching episodes together.

From tackling peer pressure to learning to achieve five whole minutes without a cell phone in hand, addressing tough topics with your kids head-on can be hard. Even with the littlest ones, it’s not always easy to explain why you can’t get them that cute puppy and why they need to be nice to their sister.

But with Netflix, your kid’s favorite shows can open the door for these tricky, sometimes awkward (hello parents of tweens and teens!), conversations.

Netflix is host to a variety of family-friendly shows that explore a range of real-life issues with equal measures of humor, angst, and heart. No matter your situation, chances are there is a show and an episode that can kickstart a dialogue around the topic just by watching it together.

Check out this list by age group (little kids, big kids, and teens) along with a TV show, and a link to a helpful episode.

How do you approach tough conversations with your kids?

I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam. I received a complimentary subscription and device. All opinions and selections are my own.