Today's Tip for Families

10-11-2022

Give Your Teen Opportunities to Solve Problems

It's hard to take a "hands off" attitude when kids are making less-than-perfect decisions. But that's exactly what you need to do to foster your teen's independence, say experts. If parents jump in and solve all their children's problems, the kids can't learn from their mistakes. They also begin to feel that they're not capable of fixing them for themselves.

When your teen wants help making a decision, share the steps of problem solving. Here's how:

• Encourage your teen to think aloud about possible solutions.
• Ask your teen to list the pros and cons of each.
• Listen to your teen's reasoning. Provide guidance if needed.
• Allow your teen to choose a solution and course of action (unless it's a matter of safety).
• Let your teen experience the consequences of the choice. This is how teens learn.

In this way, your teen won't have to face concerns alone. But you will also make it clear that your teen owns the problems and the solutions.

Brought to you by:

Webster County Schools

[School Success Ideas for Families]

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