Supporting Your Adolescent: Tips For Parents

Growing Up Today

Each generation of young people and their families faces new, and perhaps more challenging, circumstances. Today, life for young people is characterized by shrinking family incomes and growing options with regard to careers, beliefs, and lifestyle choices. More transient lifestyles result in isolation from extended families and a breakdown in the feeling of community. Today, therefore, youth need greater self-direction and poise than ever before to successfully move from adolescence to adulthood.

Today’s community and social structures place high demands on young people and their families. Fortunately, though, those systems also offer varied forms of support. Most communities have counseling services, specialized groups, hotlines, and educational courses for both youth and their parents.

Helping your child move to independence requires that you understand healthy adolescent development and how to find the resources that can help you when your child gets off track.

Tips for Parenting When Your Child Becomes an Adolescent >>