1. LISTEN TO BE HEARD. Acknowledge your parents' point of view on an issue, even if you disagree with it. If they know you're listening to their side, they're more likely to listen to yours. Also, it will help you better understand their point of view, which can help you think of creative solutions and compromises.

2. PLAN AHEAD. Think about what your parents will object to and how you will answer them. If you think your parents are likely to disagree with you or object to something you want, come up with alternative solutions to a problem you're having instead of just one solution. Present several of these alternatives to your parents. They'll be impressed. For example, if you want go to a party and your parents are hesitant to let you, look for ways to respond to their concerns. Would it help if they dropped you off and picked you up? Could they talk ahead of time to the adults who will be in the house during the party? That's much more effective than just saying that everyone else is going.

3. BE POLITE. It's simple but it's true. If you yell and scream, it will remind your parents of when you were a little kid, and they'll probably treat you that way. If you're polite, they'll probably pay more attention to your opinions. Politeness rules.

4. JUST SAY IT. All communication involves taking risks. In the 1998 Philips National Family Communication Survey-"Let's Connect", about one-quarter of kids said that they have trouble talking to their parents about things that really matter. But those kids who took the risk and talked to their parents, even when they felt uncomfortable, tended to have better communication. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you have a problem is to gather your courage up and talk about it.

5. WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE. Sometimes your facial expressions and posture say more to the people you're talking to than the words you use. If you roll your eyes at your parents, they know you don't take them seriously. If you stare at the floor and mumble, you tell your parents you don't have much confidence in what you're saying. And if you don't, why should they? A smile says, "I like you and I want to talk - and listen - to you."