There are so many life lessons we need to teach our teens! Because their brains are not fully developed until they are in their twenties, the area where judgement lies, is in the center lobe and is not yet developed as a teenager.
Here are 10 great life lessons from parents who have been through this and raised wonderful kids.
Never ask for OR send naked pictures of anyone to your friends. Teens need to learn that bad acts live on in the internet, forever.
Be an upstander not a bystander. If you see something wrong, you must report it if others can be in danger. Example: During the pandemic if kids are socializing without masks, without socially distancing and then posting it they need to report to their schools because this puts everyone in danger.
Think of what the other person might be going though before you judge. For example, if your child thinks a friend is ignoring him, maybe there's a reason. Maybe they are going through something as well, maybe there is illness in the family, or someone lost a job or who knows.
When your child goes out to eat at a restaurant with another family, never order first. See what the people who are paying for dinner order before you order. If they have an appetizer, fine, if not, do not order one. And never order anything expensive on the menu. Your child should never order the Lobster dish unless offered by the host.
Stay in your own lane: If your teen doesn't like what their friend is wearing, it is not necessary to comment. Their sneakers are their sneakers, not yours!
Be empathetic: If a friend says he doesn't feel well, don't say neither do I. Teach your child to be empathetic and ask if there is anything they can do to be helpful, it's just nicer.
Be in control of the message you deliver, sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you? Wrong! If someone doesn't think what your child says is funny, then it is not funny.
Consent matters: if one teen says to another teen, I don't want to bike ride with you now or I don't feel like jogging now or I don't want to stay out this late, then drop it, the other teen gets to choose.
Don't put down someone else's values: if it is important to your teen's friend that he has Sunday dinner with his family. then your teen shouldn't say that's so stupid.
Be the person you want other people to like, not the kid who is a smart aleck and gets the easy laugh at someone else's expense.
SO when choosing a school, find one that will partner with you, these are tough issues to deal with alone. Contact Wendy Levey Consulting, we've got this!
