Adolescence can be an exciting time for teens and a nerve-wracking time for their parents. As your teen gets older and begins asserting more independence, you must strike a delicate balance between setting healthy boundaries and giving them some freedom to learn, grow, and make mistakes. While you shouldn’t aim to be repressively strict, you also don’t wish to become the overly permissive parent who never knows what your teen does in their free time or who they hang out with. Here are some helpful guidelines on setting ground rules for teens and enforcing the consequences.
1. Promote Smart Safety
Teenagers, with their seemingly unlimited reserve of energy, may believe they’re invincible, but you know better. Keep in mind that the rational decision-making part of your teen’s brain is still developing, and they may make reckless choices as a result. If your teen is getting old enough to apply for his learner’s permit or driver’s license, now is an excellent opportunity to set some ground rules around driving, including how to limit distracted driving.
As a parent, you are also your teen’s best source of information and first line of defense against underage drug and alcohol experimentation. Talk about ways to resist peer pressure and teach them how to assertively say no. Establish clear consequences for what will happen if you discover your teen has been drinking or using drugs.
2. Encourage Healthy Habits
While your child may no longer need your help to bathe, get dressed, or brush their teeth each day, everyone needs occasional reminders to practice self-care. Consider setting ground rules around screen time, eating a balanced diet and getting enough physical activity.
One simple way to provide an array of social, emotional, and academic benefits for your teen is to introduce device-free family dinners. Consider asking questions such as “Did you learn anything interesting in school today?” Then, listen without interrupting. You could also keep a mental list of thought-provoking questions to ask your teen at dinner – make sure they are open-ended, so your teen can’t brush them off with a simple “yes” or “no.”
3. Prepare Your Teen for the Real World
Before you know it, your teen will be ready to graduate from high school and go on to college or the workforce. They may already be working a part-time job to earn extra money for expenses like a car payment or school trips. Now is an ideal opportunity to set ground rules that teach your teen how to save and spend wisely. Teach them how to make a budget and how to make smart spending choices. To give them a realistic idea of how much things cost, you may want to send them to the grocery store to do the weekly shopping.
4. Get to Know Your Teen’s Friends and Hobbies
While you don’t want to be a “helicopter parent,” taking an interest in what your teen does and who they spend time with is a valuable way to convey how much you care. You can start getting a sense for who might pressure your teen into doing things they shouldn’t, and remind them of the importance of following the ground rules you’ve mutually agreed to.
Adolescent Services at ARCH Academy
If your family needs help dealing with adolescent substance abuse, ARCH Academy is here for you. We are an accredited rehab facility offering 12-step programming in an academically focused environment for teens ages 14 to 18. To protect your teen’s bright future, take the first step and contact us today.
