For Parents: How Well Do You Know Your Teen?


If you don't know what makes your child happy or sad or excited, there is no emotional bond between you. The questions below address how much you know about your child. They can be answered with either "yes" or "no." Make sure you can truly answer each question if you are going to write "yes." Often people assume they know the answer, but when pressed, they really do not.

Connect the Parent Questionnaire
Do you really know:

1. What your teen is putting most of his/her energy into right now?

2. What personal issues your teen is trying to resolve?

3. What daily hassles irritate you teen?

4. Who has the most daily influence on your teen's thoughts and behaviors?

5. The names of your teen's three closest friends?

6. Who your teen would confide in first if there were a serious problem?

7. What your teen considers to be his/her greatest strengths?

8. What your teen considers to be his/her greatest weakness?

9. Who your teen considers to be his/her biggest enemies?

10. Your teen's favorite time of day?

11. Your teen's favorite movies?

12. Your teen's favorite childhood stories?

13. Your teen's favorite hobby or pastime?

14. Your teen's favorite colors?

15. Your teen's favorite foods or meals?

16. Your teen's heroes?

17. Your teen's favorite song, band or singer?

18. Your teen's favorite books?

19. Your teen's favorite television shows?

20. Your teen's attitude about his/her body?


  • Find out what your answers mean.

  • From Closing the Gap: A Strategy for Bringing Parents and Teens Together.