Discuss your adolescence: Fact is despite the generation gap, hormones and their effects remain much the same on all parts of the globe and over the centuries. Discuss how your teenage years were and how you felt growing up in a different era with more restrictions and fewer opportunities to socialize. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of your teens versus theirs. This way your children will see you as someone who has also navigated the same choppy waters and can be consulted and confided in when the need arises. If you feel they are having sex, you absolutely need to discuss it no matter how uncomfortable it is. Doing this might save a lot of trouble later on.

Occupy them creatively: Teens have a lot of energy, which if not channelized properly can lead to disastrous consequences. Encourage them to indulge in a hobby and learn a few things like music or sport which will add to their personality. This way they can spend their time productively rather than brooding over their crushes.