How to Impress Your Parents

Last Updated: June 10, 2022 References Approved

How can you impress your parents and make them happy? Odds are, your parents love you already, but all you need to really impress them is a little extra kindness, responsibility, and a positive attitude. By helping out your parents, doing well in school, and spending quality time with them, you can give them a chance to see how grown-up and responsible you are.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Helping Out with Chores

1
Offer to cook dinner one night each week. You can find a recipe for just about anything you’d like to cook on the internet. Making an effort to cook can really be a big help for you parents. You may need to enlist your parents help to get everything you need, but they will likely be happy to help you with acquiring what you need.
- Start by writing down all the ingredients and supplies you will need.
- If you can’t get to the grocery store to pick up ingredients on your own, ask your parent to drive you.
- If you need extra help with your recipe, try searching YouTube for videos related to what you would like to cook.
2
Wash the dishes. On the night you cook, or on another night, offer to clean up the mess. Rinse and place all the dishes in the dishwasher (or wash them by hand if you don’t have one), and put any left over food away.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Be sure to wipe down the counters with a damp cloth.
- Sweep up any crumbs that might have fallen on the floor.
Advertisement
3
Offer to clean the house. There are many ways you can get involved in cleaning the house. You might offer to scrub the tub, vacuum the floor, or dust the furniture. As long as you offer, and do a good job, your parents are very likely to be impressed by your effort.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.}
4
Find out if there are any outside chores you can help with. Maybe the grass needs mowed, or the dog needs to go for a walk. Ask your parents if there is anything you can do to help them outside.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Spending Quality Time with Your Parents

1
Get up early and go for a walk with one or both of your parents. If your parents get up early, try to get up with them. Suggest going for a walk. You will all get your day off to a good start, and have time to talk with each other about your plans for the day.
- Ask them about their plans for the day too. Don’t spend the entire time talking about yourself. Express interest in their daily lives as well.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
2
Have dinner together. If possible, try to have dinner with your parents most nights. Like taking a morning walk, having dinner gives you a chance to enjoy a meal together and talk about your day.
- When your parents ask about your day, don’t be short with them. For example, if they ask you how school was that day, don’t just say, “fine”. Give them details about why it was good or bad. Talk about something interesting you learned, or something funny that happened during the day.
3
Tell them you love and appreciate them. This is a very small step, but can mean a lot to your parents. Simply telling them that they are important to you, and that you appreciate all the things they do for you can really have an impact.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.}
4
Offer to make them a snack or rub their shoulders. After your parents return from work, they are likely to be quite tired. You can offer to bring them something to drink, make them a snack, or even rub their shoulders and/or feet. Even if your parents don’t work, this is still a nice gesture, especially if you can see that they are stressed or worried about something.
5
Be honest with your parents. Sometimes it is hard to talk to our parents about things because we think they won’t understand. However, if there is something bothering you or something you are worried about, talk to your parents about it. Not only will this make them feel like they are being included in your life and that you trust them, they may also be able to offer suggestions and advice you hadn’t thought of.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.}^{[6]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Doing Well In School

1
Maintain good grades. Nearly all parents want their kids to do well in school. Make sure you are keeping up with your assignments and paying attention in class. This will make it easier to maintain good grades.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.}
2
Ask for help from your parents. This presents an opportunity to spend time with your parents, and improve your grades. If there is a subject you are struggling with, ask your parents if they can help you.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Be aware that there may be subjects they don’t know enough about, or that they may not have time to help with. Don’t take this to mean they don’t care, instead, remember that they work hard to keep you happy and healthy.
3
Seek extra help at school. If you need additional help to maintain your grades, ask your teachers or see if tutoring is available. Some subjects can be challenging, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
4
Do as your teachers ask you to do. Part of doing well in school means behaving well. Do as your teachers instruct, and this should be easy enough.
- If you face pressure from peers to misbehave, do your best to ignore it. Eventually, they will learn that you do not cave in and leave you alone.
5
Look for extracurricular activities that interest you. If your school offers volunteer opportunities, sports teams, or band, consider if this might be something you would enjoy. Participating in things because you want to can create a lot of joy and pride for your parents.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Staying Out of Trouble

1
Behave politely with everyone you meet. Your parents will be impressed if you are polite with them, but they will be even more impressed to see you behave politely with other people, such as grandparents, family friends, etc.^{[9]
X
Research source}
2
Take an interest in your parents' lives. It may sometimes seem as though you already know everything there is to know about your mother or father, but you most likely know very little about their lives before you existed. Ask them to tell you about their favorite childhood memories or ask them if they have any hobbies they’d like to spend more time on.^{[10]
X
Research source}
3
Avoid fighting with your siblings. If you have siblings, do what you can to avoid fighting with them. This can be very challenging, but it is very stressful and even sad for parents to see their children not getting along. This shows your parents that you are maturing.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you can, try having a private conversation with your sibling to explain that you want to avoid disagreement in order to make your parents happy, you may be able to work together to accomplish this step.
4
Come home on time. If your parents have given you a curfew, then be sure to adhere to it. If you are going to be late, call them before you are late to explain why you will be late, and what time you expect to be home.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Don’t be late because you simply wanted to stay out longer.
5
Avoid doing drugs or drinking alcohol. Your parents will be very worried if they suspect you are doing things that are illegal. They want you to be safe and healthy, but they are concerned because of the potential legal ramifications.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Unless you are of legal age to do so, do not drink alcohol.
- Explain to your parents that you are not interested in trying illegal drugs or drinking alcohol when you are underage because you know that it is dangerous and because you do not want them to worry.
6
Be straightforward. If you do get into trouble, be straightforward and honest with your parents about what happened and why it happened.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Accept the consequences of your actions. Your parents may punish you for your behavior. If they do, accept this punishment without a fight. This demonstrates maturity.
- Explain to them how you plan to avoid repeating your mistake in the future.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I prove to my parents that I'm responsible?

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Dr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.

Peggy Rios, PhD

Counseling Psychologist (Florida)

Expert Answer

You have to demonstrate an ability to pursue goals on your own. Every time your parents have to remind you to be productive, they're assuming you aren't responsible enough to do something without a reminder. If they never have to say anything and they see you being self-dependent, they'll know you're responsible!
Question

How can I express my love to my parents?

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist (Florida)
Dr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.

Peggy Rios, PhD

Counseling Psychologist (Florida)

Expert Answer

Just tell them you love them regularly. You can get good grades, clean up around the house, and take care of your responsibilities, but there's no substitution for "I love you!"

Warnings

Remember that your parents will not be around forever. Cherish the time you have with them, and make sure they know how much you love them.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 59 Not Helpful 9
Try to maintain these habits for life. It will be confusing for your parents if you practice these methods for a few days or weeks, and they may think you were after something.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 55 Not Helpful 9