Ask questions that encourage your teenager to talk

ReachOut Content Team
Published 24 November 2023

Active listening is an important skill in any relationship and is all about building rapport, understanding and trust. When you actively listen to your child, you will hear what they are actually saying, not what you think they are saying.

When you are having a conversation with your child, encourage them to open up and talk by asking questions such as:

  • 'How did that make you feel?'

  • 'It sounds as if you were (angry/frustrated/excited), were you?'

Let them know that you understand by summarising the situation as you’ve heard it. This also takes the emotion out of the situation and allows them to see the facts.

  • 'So let me see if I’ve got this right. You …Is that how it happened?'

Your child isn’t always looking for you to fix a situation or solve a problem for them. Avoid jumping in with advice, such as: ‘Well, just do this or that.’ Instead, help them move towards finding a resolution themselves by asking:

  • 'What do you think is best thing to do now?'

Later, ask them how the situation played out. In this way, they’ll learn about how to process situations for themselves.

There is always more than one way to work through things. Having these sorts of conversations helps your child explore how they manage their relationships and gives them clues about how to communicate well with others. If you are still wondering how to get your teenager to talk to you, see the links below.

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              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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