Whether you have a son or a daughter, as their mom or dad, you can be the one who gets the rewards for all that listening. What are the rewards? This is where it gets good.

Regularly and intensely listening to your teen means you are building a rock-solid relationship with them. If they feel genuinely accepted and cared for by you, they will grow to respect and trust you. Guess what? Your teen LISTENS to who he respects and trusts.

Wouldn't you like that to be you?

You can solve a lot of parenting challenges using patient, consistent listening over time. Don't just tell your teenager you care...prove it to him by dropping what you're doing, looking him in the eye, and hearing every word he tells you next time he flies by...even if his conversation is about the latest happening on MySpace.

After you listen, you can ask questions about issues that concern you. Find out what your teen really thinks. What values he's considering adopting. You don't need to interrogate him.

Just listen. Ask. Then gently guide. As you win a place in his heart, you will also win the top spot of influence in his young life.

So remember...if you're wondering what the hottest strategies for parenting your teenager are...the real secret to parenting a teenager is to simply listen.

By Colleen Langenfeld