Fostering Independence in Teens
Life Ed Classes
Ages 11 - 18 and up
Empowered Success for Teens
Our blog is a comprehensive resource for parents, educators, and youth themselves, offering a range of information and resources to support the development of critical life skills. From communication and problem-solving to financial literacy and leadership, our programs are tailored to the unique needs and interests of tweens and teens.
As parents of teens, we walk a tightrope between entrusting them with freedom, versus overseeing their every move. It’s tough! We’re stuck between “But my friends get to…”, and societal expectations of us as parents. It’s no easy job. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, too much can put them in danger, and yet, too little can stunt their development into adulthood. One place that has been backed up by pediatricians and psychologists as being too much freedom, is the wide-open door to the internet, especially social media. Anyone under 25 (at the least) is not equipped to deal with the manipulators coming at them from around the world, but this article is not about the internet.
So, as parents, how can we foster our teens into taking responsibility, making sound decisions, and hone in on their purpose while learning to be self-sufficient?
One approach is to teach them life skills by helping you. It can be cooking, laundry, and even budgeting. These skills will help them become more self-sufficient as adults.
Two is to allow ourselves to be examples and talk through our decision process.
Three is to encourage them to pursue their interests: Ask them to give you their plan of action on how to develop their interests. This can help them develop critical thinking and a sense of direction.
Four, is to encourage them to take initiative and ask them open-ended questions like: What benefits and downfalls will your actions create?
Five, is to allow our kids to fail so that they can learn to get back up on their own.
All of these good practices won’t happen overnight, it takes practice and patience. For some parents, most teens may seem disengaged, bored, and overall unimpressed with all we do. I can promise you one thing for sure, and that is that they are watching us, they watch how we act, and react. They also take note of what we prioritize. And they do hear us, more than they let us know. Be patient with yourself and keep working at it.
You are both worth it.
