| By :
Stewart Wrighter
Parents who want to encourage their teens to be independent need to help their children learn responsibility. It can be tough letting kids make choices and take charge of things, but the only way they will learn is by handling situations and growing trust in them. There may be a few mistakes along the way, but it is important that teens have a chance to take on tasks and learn to trust their judgment. You can continue to guide them, but their growing faith in themselves will build confidence for adulthood. If your teen has started driving, help them realize part of their responsibility is caring for their vehicle. Kids who are automobile buffs will jump at a chance to get under the hood, but most teens are going to use their vehicles just to get from place to place with friends. Make sure you stay on top of anything that needs maintenance but encourage teen drivers to take responsibility on their own. Remind them how important brake repair is and allow them to handle their own car repair. If your child will be out and about with their friends, set a curfew for them. It does not need to be unreasonable. The point is to give your child a guideline for safety. You can even ask them what a safe curfew seems like to them and as long as it is not in the wee hours of the morning, you can agree. If the time they arrange is later than you had hoped, consider comprising by having them call you halfway through the night to check in. If your child is young and has proven she is irresponsible, set a curfew and require they stick to it. But if she has shown an ability to use good judgment, work out a plan together that makes you both comfortable. Giving them control helps gain responsibility and good judgment. Children of all ages can handle household responsibilities. If your child is sharing their living space, they should share the living responsibilities. Consider their school schedule and extra-curricular activities and determine the amount and variety of chores that will work best without sacrificing their school performance. One of the responsibilities you might consider is supporting family by looking after siblings. It might feel like a pain to have to take responsibility for a younger brother or sister, but this is a great way to help your child gain independence. If you are looking for a way for your teenager to help out, speak with them about caring for a younger sibling. Your ultimate goal when dealing with a teenager should be to build trust and help them take responsibility. It might be hard to accept, but giving your teen a little freedom is going to help in the long run. If they make a mistake, they will learn there are direct consequences for their behavior. If they are successful and make smart choices, they will gain trust in themselves and realize you trust them too.
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