How do I communicate with a teenager who won't talk to me?

Teens often communicate better during parallel activities — driving, cooking, or walking — than face-to-face conversations. Ask open-ended questions ('What was the best part of your day?') rather than yes/no questions. Share your own experiences and feelings first to model vulnerability. Resist the urge to lecture or fix; sometimes they just need to be heard. If your teen is completely shut down and isolated from everyone, not just you, consult your pediatrician to assess for depression or anxiety.