Teenagers need us to give them choices and responsibility that suit to their age. They can be stroppy, urging them to run their own lives and make decisions for themselves. Some parents may be tempted to throw up their hands and choose for a peaceful life, by letting them stay out late, do things they want, and even leave school early or not take a challenging college course.
Other parents may come up hard and take over all responsibility for everything likes what they study at school, who they see, when they are in. What is more effective, and certainly more what adolescents need, is for a gradual process in which teens learn to decide, and gradually take control. It is the most effective choice because some of the teens are keen to take on the role and if they do not have the opportunity to do it progressively, they will seize in an uncontrolled manner.
Adolescents act irresponsibly and foolishly often because they have been denied little control over their lives. The answer is not to let them continue or besiege them but to work with them what responsibilities they can and should take and increase them as they show what they can do. Young people tend to bear responsibility when it is transferred to them.
