 Help Parenting Teenagers and High School Teens Ages 15 and Up
Teen years are wildly unpredictable. You still have the moodiness of the pre-teen years and the battle for independence intensifies. It's not all bad, though. You do have the simple pleasure of watching your teenager make mature decisions and grow into adulthood.
Great, you say, but what about choices regarding curfews, friends, driving, dating, smoking and drinking? Your potential battlegrounds are endless. That's why you must remember this: Don't feel too frustrated or desperate when your son or daughter defies your authority. Reducing dependence on parents is natural and necessary in this life stage. However, you can play a significant role in shaping the decisions your teen makes.
You should be authoritative without being authoritarian. You should teach by word and by example. You should be engaged in your child's education (research shows your involvement can enhance academic success and provide protection against the risks of adolescence).
Don't retreat from your teen's life. Participate in it. Now is the time to reinforce character and build discipline so your teen can survive and thrive in the face of life's many lessons:
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