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Your teenager is becoming a young adult, which can be an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. It is a time when your teen is going to need more independence, but you may feel worried because they are still your child. However, you need to give them more freedom to prepare them for adulthood. With the following tips, you can help your teen learn independence and responsibility.
Make Advice A Two-Way Street
Let your teen know that it is okay to ask for advice when they need it. You can even give examples of when you have asked your own parents for advice. However, you also need to be open to receiving advice from your young adult. Remember, making advice a two-way street opens the door to more communication.
Lead By Example
When there is a conflict between you and your teenager, use respect and patience to solve it. Do not turn it into a fight, and be sure to apologize when you are in the wrong. You are not only showing your teen that you respect them as a person, but you are teaching them how to handle conflicts with other people.
Let Them Take On Chores
Chores such as making lunch, washing dishes and doing laundry are things teenagers can do themselves. Let your teen know that you are going to be doing less of their chores from now on. You also need to let them learn the consequences of slacking on their own. Remember, your teen is not going to learn about responsibility if you are always doing their chores for them.
Teach Them How To Budget
It is fine to give them a regular allowance, but you do not want them to see you as a source of income. Teach your teen how to budget their money for small and large purchases, and do not pay for any items that are not a necessity. Your teen will take the steps to save their money, and they may even take on jobs such as dog walking and babysitting to earn extra cash.
Give Them Their Own Space
When you give your teenager a space to call their own, you are giving them a sense of independence and self-discipline. They have their own space to decorate, work on projects and think through problems. You can insist they keep it clean when it starts to affect the rest of the home, but you would be surprised at how many young adults prefer a clean space.
Stay Connected Through Life
Your teenager is going to grow into a young adult, and then an adult, but this is not a reason to lose touch with one another. Whether they are living at home or on their own, you want to schedule visits to stay updated on how everything is going. Once they move out, phone calls, video chatting and in-person visits should be a regular thing.
The path is different for many young adults, but you can prepare them for that path by establishing independence and responsibility.