3 Tips for Helping Adolescents Make Good Decisions

Teenagers experience many changes as they journey from childhood to adulthood. During that time, they can face many challenges, such as peer pressure, changing social dynamics and finding their first jobs. Helping adolescents make good decisions can be a great way to boost their confidence levels and ability to handle themselves in a variety of situations.

1. Bring Up Important Issues

At times, dealing with increasingly complex issues can leave teenagers feeling bewildered. They may not always want to bring up certain topics, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need help. Try to bring up important topics on a regular basis to allow teenagers to naturally voice their concerns. These discussions may not always be comfortable or easy to have, but they are necessary, especially if teenagers are engaging in risky behavior that could result in legal trouble or court ordered classes.

2. Develop Strategies

Bringing up important topics is a great way to get started, and the next step is to help teenagers develop helpful strategies. Whether they struggle with peer pressure, meeting deadlines or making friends, there are things that they can do to improve their situations. Help them figure out solutions to common problems so that they know how to behave under different circumstances.

3. Promote Ongoing Conversations

Discussing topics like drug and alcohol use or sexual activity can make people uncomfortable, and it may be tempting to have a single conversation about those issues and assume that it enough. However, ongoing conversations about important topics can reinforce expectations and allow teenagers to bring up any issues that they are struggling with. To enhance the communication channels, create a trusting and accepting environment that allows teenagers to voice their concerns.

Helping adolescents navigate obstacles as they grow and learn isn’t always easy. However, adults can offer advice and try to equip adolescents with the tools they need to handle common life issues.