Teen Milestone: Delaying an Immediate Want

It feels like we live in an era of instant gratification. From quickly answering questions online to packages delivered within the hour(!) — it’s easy to “want it now.” For teens, delaying an immediate want while understanding the bigger payoff down the line comes with other benefits. The ability to delay gratification has been associated with a range of positive outcomes, including higher test scores and a better ability to cope with stress. Parents can help by calling attention to their teen’s effort rather than the result. Your teens will learn that thought and planning now lead to better results later.

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