As your teenage son or daughter reaches age 18 it is time to begin the process of letting go. These steps can help
Difficulty: Hard
Time Required: 2 Years
Here's How:
- As your teen gets older allow them to stay out later.
- Avoid "grounding" your teen for more than a few days.
- Punish less, and be sure that punishments are natural consequences.
- Don't pry into their personal lives, but be there for them if they want to talk.
- Support their efforts to get a part-time job.
- Allow high school seniors to visit an older friend at college and spend the night.
- Find a balance between encouraging some healthy rebellion and setting limits.
- Allow them to choose a college or job themselves, but discuss it with them.
- Give unsolicited advice sparingly.
- Gradually allow them more freedom with the family car if they do not own one.
- Spend time with your teen doing things that they enjoy doing with you.
Tips:
- Expect to see strong swings between independence and dependence.
- Your task is to give them more freedom and shield them less from consequences of their decisions.
- Try to see them as someone moving toward adulthood.
