Help Your Teen Gain Competence

“You can do it!” you promised your toddler when they tried to take their first steps. It’s time to shout it at your teen again as they approach a more grown-up set of developmental milestones during adolescence. That phrase is summed up with a single word: Competence. Teens earn it through experience, which means parents need to allow teens to trust their judgments, make responsible choices, and face difficult situations. Teens grow by mastering new skills. So get out of their way and trust that they can handle life—including figuring out what they don’t know yet.

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