As a high school student, your teen is in practice—and not just for the latest quiz or for his lines in the school play. He’s in practice for adulthood. Assuming more responsibility for himself is the way to get there.
Help your teen down the road to adulthood by:
- Letting him make decisions. At this age, your teen should have some say in nearly everything that affects him. Trust him in this way. He will be more likely to bend your way when you make clear that an issue is very important to you.
- Letting him make mistakes. Parents naturally want to rescue their children. Avoid doing that unless it’s a matter of your teen’s health or safety. Otherwise, try this: “Okay, you goofed. It happens to everyone. What can you do to fix things?”
- Skipping power struggles. Instead of trying to control your teen—“Get upstairs and do that homework now!”—place the control on yourself. For example, “I’ll be happy to drive you to the mall after you do your homework.”
Copyright © Parent Institute
- You might also be interested in
- This article is part of the following topics:
- Building Responsibility & Independence Decisionmaking High School Learning at Home Middle School
Comments on Give Responsibility To Prepare Teens For Adulthood