Sometimes, just sitting nearby while they play on an iPad or grab a soft drink is enough. It mimics the "parallel play" of their toddler years but in a way that respects their maturity.
Parents often wonder if they’ve become "unrecognizable monsters," but it's usually just hormones clouding a teen's reasoning .
Here is a reflection on bridging that gap from toddler-hood to the teen years. The Shift from Simple to Complex