Get him ready now by not doing for him what you know he can do for himself.

Here’s how:

• Emphasize choices and results. Before he acts, encourage him to think about what will happen as a result of his decisions.
• Applaud your teen when he makes a good decision. When he doesn’t, ask him what he learned.
• Don’t rescue your teen unless it’s a matter of safety. Forgotten lunches and forgotten homework are not matters of safety.
• Don’t solve his problems. He knew he wanted to see the hot new movie coming out next week. But he spent every cent he had on a second pair of sneakers. He’ll never learn to rely on himself if you pay for his ticket.
• Don’t do things over. His homework and his bedroom may not be as neat as you’d like. Don’t offer to recopy it, or to dust the shelves.

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