Growing into independent adults does not come automatically. Parents can and should play an important and conscious role in developing self reliance in teenagers. Find out below what grownups can do to help develop this quality in adolescents.
It’s important to encourage the development of self-esteem in adolescents, since this helps to strengthen the growth of independent behavior and thinking. Kids with poor self-image develop unhealthy dependence on others. Parents ought to offer consistent, genuine praise and encouragement to the young ones for trying to accomplish the smallest of tasks at home or at school, for example.
Learn to strike a balance between being too controlling and being too lenient. This requires consistent self-reflection to get right. It’s perhaps best to try and promote a healthy sense of independence in the youngster without being in the way, or prevent being so absent that no guidance is forthcoming.
Listen to teenagers and take the youngster’s desires, plans, and interests seriously. Everyone wants to feel significant, and that what happens to the person matters to others. In the absence of increasing feelings of significance, growing into a self-reliant young adult falters.
Parents that model independent thinking and behavior are more successful in teaching these to kids. It’s an old truth that children learn more effectively when observing the actions of adults in the immediate environment. Show adolescents the value of independent actions, rather than preaching about it.
Making a positive impact as parents when cultivating self reliance in teenagers also entails demonstrating as often as possible the value of selfless service to others. When distributing food parcels to the homeless, for instance, take the young ones along to assist. Such actions will prevent a growing sense of independence turn into inflated arrogance. Parents will be surprised how much positive influence the above suggestions, when put into action, can have on adolescents.
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