Why teenagers who stop sharing everything with parents may still feel close

A child who once told you everything may suddenly start giving one-word answers. The stories about school become shorter. Friends' names are mentioned less often. A teenager may spend more time in their room, keep their phone private and stop explaining every small detail of their day. Many parents may wonder: Why doesn't my child talk to me anymore? Have we become distant? Are they hiding something?*But psychologists say there is a difference between growing privacy and losing emotional connection. During adolescence, children begin to develop a stronger sense of independence. They may still care deeply about their parents while deciding that some parts of their lives belong to them. Research also suggests that adolescent disclosure is not simply a story of children either "telling parents everything" or becoming completely secretive.Teenagers naturally become more selective about what they shareAs children grow older, the information they consider private can change.