No one is good at any skill until they practice. The active listening skill that you read about in parent magazines and books is no different. You need to practice. You can practice this skill by talking to your teen about something that won’t get emotional. This can happen after you both watch a television show or see the same movie. Or asking general information questions like when will your teen need a ride home. Using these conversations for practice will help you use active listening when your talks are of a serious nature.