If your child is a minor – meaning, under age 18 – then technically you can bring them to therapy against their will. You can call the therapist, give them information about your teen, schedule an appointment for them, and force your child to get in the car to go to treatment.

Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if they’re believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what’s involved in their treatment. This is known as being Gillick competent. Otherwise, someone with parental responsibility can consent for them.

According to California law, each parent, acting alone, can consent to the mental health treatment of his or her minor child(ren). While it is generally advisable to seek the consent of both parents, therapists are not legally required to do so in cases where the parents’ marriage is intact.

Here are some ideas.

1. Adjust your expectations. Face it: you won’t be able to get your teens to do all the chores you want them to do.
2. Come to an agreement.
3. Be absolutely clear.
4. Have sensible consequences.
5. Require basic hygiene.
6. Be a good example.
7. Don’t micromanage.
8. Keep your cool.

Ask, “how can I be helpful?” and listen to what they are trying to communicate. When there is a gap int eh conversation, resist the urge to say something. Rather, keep listening, tell them you really want to know what would help. This space is critical, so bite your tongue and listen longer than you think you need to.

What to do:

1. Don’t lecture her or tell her how hurt you feel.
2. Try to have positive interactions with her.
3. Engage her in activities you’ve enjoyed doing together.
4. Sit down to meals with her.
5. Don’t pump her for information.

You talk too much: If you child is more introverted, they may need time to be quiet, time alone or time to process what you’re asking. If your child is more extroverted, they may need more time to talk. You’re judgmental: Your child may not talk to you because they are afraid of your response.

By age 3, a toddler’s vocabulary usually is 200 or more words, and many kids can string together three- or four-word sentences. Kids at this stage of language development can understand more and speak more clearly. By now, you should be able to understand about 75% of what your toddler says.

Preschooler weight and height chart