Friday, June 20, 2008

Raising Teenagers: How much freedom should they have?

Being a teenager and being a parent of one present some unique growing challenges from an emotional, financial, and educational standpoint. For the teenager, is a new time in their lives when they are seeking for self-identify; for the parent, it can be a difficult time as teenagers exert their independence and no longer want to be managed by parents.

So, in light of this, how much freedom should teenagers have their own lives to make their own choices (and accept the consequences for their actions)? What was it like as a teenager growing up in your family? How can parents and children develop a positive relationship during this time?

Please share your ideas.

Randall

6 comments:

  1. I don't get a say in this matter I guess as I spent most of my teenage years in boarding school. Because my parents didn't see me often, they seemed too tentative around me. But the truth is I hate being managed by anyone. If things get tight I would just escape.Yeah, that's me.

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  2. Great blog loved reading :-)

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  3. Most of the teenagers of my country haven't ilussion for a job, and only are thinking in drinking outdoors and fed up to the neighboors. When I was a teenager, my father asked me, Do you like study or work?, and the next year I was studying in a military academy, with only 16 years old. Young people suffer a lack of discipline.

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  4. In my opinion teenagers should have freedom but also discipline. The education they've had in their childhood is very important.
    I think that a teenager can choose the best option for himself only if he (or she) knows the consequences of their actions. Obviously they could make some mistakes but also adults make it. It's not useful to forbid everything. Parents should think about childrens' education earlier, not only into teenage.

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  5. I think parents can be a role model for their children.If you don't smoke, they would not smoke too after knowing the consequence of smoking.
    They can have freedom but you can tell them adults have more experience and tell them your suggestion. Tell them to considerate while giving them freedoms.

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  6. I just read a great book called teaching with love and logic , which discusses these very issues- whether you are a parent or a teacher. The book teaches parents/teachers to teach good habits to children and then allow the child to make his/her own choices (with a positive or a negative consequence associated with their decision). The book stated the importance of the parent/teacher following through with the consequence (whether the consequence be good or bad). The goal is that the child/teenager will grow up making their own decisions-not feeling controlled. The end result... children who know how to make good decisions and who grow up to be respectable people. I have started using this technique on my own kids and have been pleasantly surprised at how great this method has been working.

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Thanks for posting a comment. I appreciate your interesting in sharing your ideas.

Best,

Randall

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