Questions to Ask a Teenager About Life
Thoughtful questions to ask teenagers that will help you connect with them, understand their perspective, and support their growth during this important life stage.
1What's the most exciting thing happening in your life right now?
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What's the most exciting thing happening in your life right now?
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Why this works
Shows interest in their current experiences and helps you understand what they're passionate about.
2What's the biggest challenge you're facing?
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What's the biggest challenge you're facing?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their struggles and provides an opportunity to offer support and guidance.
3What are your goals for the next few years?
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What are your goals for the next few years?
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Why this works
Understanding their aspirations helps you support their dreams and provide relevant guidance.
4What do you enjoy most about school?
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What do you enjoy most about school?
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Why this works
Learning about their academic interests helps you understand their strengths and passions.
5What's your favorite way to spend free time?
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What's your favorite way to spend free time?
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Why this works
Understanding their interests helps you connect with them and find common ground.
6What's something you're really good at?
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What's something you're really good at?
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Why this works
Helps them recognize their strengths and builds confidence while showing you value their abilities.
7What's something you'd like to learn or improve?
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What's something you'd like to learn or improve?
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Why this works
Understanding their growth goals helps you support their development and provide relevant resources.
8What's your relationship like with your friends?
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What's your relationship like with your friends?
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Why this works
Understanding their social connections helps you support their relationships and social development.
9What's something that makes you feel proud?
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What's something that makes you feel proud?
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Why this works
Helps them recognize their achievements and builds self-esteem while showing you value their accomplishments.
10What's something that worries you about the future?
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What's something that worries you about the future?
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Why this works
Understanding their concerns helps you provide reassurance and support for their anxieties.
11What's your favorite subject in school and why?
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What's your favorite subject in school and why?
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Why this works
Learning about their academic interests helps you understand their strengths and potential career paths.
12What's something you wish adults understood about teenagers?
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What's something you wish adults understood about teenagers?
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Why this works
Gives them a voice to express their perspective and helps you understand their world better.
13What's your favorite way to relax or de-stress?
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What's your favorite way to relax or de-stress?
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Why this works
Understanding their coping strategies helps you support their mental health and well-being.
14What's something you're looking forward to?
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What's something you're looking forward to?
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Why this works
Understanding their hopes and dreams helps you support their aspirations and provide encouragement.
15What's your relationship like with your family?
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What's your relationship like with your family?
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Why this works
Understanding their family dynamics helps you support their relationships and provide appropriate guidance.
16What's something you've learned recently that excited you?
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What's something you've learned recently that excited you?
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Why this works
Shows interest in their learning and helps you understand what topics engage them.
17What's something you wish you could change about your life?
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What's something you wish you could change about your life?
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Why this works
Understanding their desires for change helps you support their growth and provide relevant guidance.
18What's your favorite way to express yourself?
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What's your favorite way to express yourself?
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Why this works
Understanding their self-expression helps you support their creativity and identity development.
19What's something you're grateful for?
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What's something you're grateful for?
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Why this works
Helps them practice gratitude and builds positive thinking while showing you value their perspective.
20What's something you'd like to talk about that we haven't discussed?
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What's something you'd like to talk about that we haven't discussed?
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Why this works
Gives them the opportunity to bring up topics that are important to them and shows you're open to their concerns.
Connecting with Teenagers
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Approaching the Conversation
Be Genuinely Interested
Show authentic interest in their thoughts and experiences. Teenagers can sense when adults are just going through the motions.
Listen Without Judgment
Create a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism.
Respect Their Perspective
Remember that their experiences and concerns are valid, even if they seem different from adult perspectives.
Key Areas to Explore
Current Life and Experiences
Goals and Aspirations
Emotions and Well-being
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Don't Minimize Their Concerns
What may seem trivial to adults can be very important to teenagers. Take their concerns seriously.
Avoid Being Preachy
Instead of lecturing, ask questions that help them think through issues and come to their own conclusions.
Don't Pressure Them
If they don't want to discuss something, respect their boundaries. Don't pressure them to share more than they're comfortable with.