Are you helping your teen consider consequences? PDF Print E-mail
Teens think they're invincible. So it's up to parents to help teens develop an appropriate sense of caution. Are you teaching your teen to make good choices and consider consequences?

Answer yes or no to the questions below to find out:

___1. Have you talked with your teen about thinking first-- before acting?

___2. Have you taught your teen delaying tactics when she is faced with a choice? She can count to 10 or pretend to call someone so she can stall for time.

___3. Do you remind your teen of her long-term goals? "Will you get into college if you skip classes and fail?"

___4. Have you given your teen an out? If she's in danger, you will pick her up--no questions asked.

___5. Have you given her some ways to say no. "My parents would kill me!" is usually effective.

How well are you doing?

Each yes means you're preparing your teen to think before she acts. For each no answer, try that idea in the quiz.

Reprinted with permission from the September 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.