The teen years can be stressful and chaotic – for teenagers and parents. Teens are experiencing a multitude of simultaneous changes – physical, emotional, social and cognitive – all while their drive for independence is ramping up. The choppy waters that result can destabilize a household and stir up conflict over who’s in charge of their bedroom, their friends, their schoolwork and more.
One thing Jean and I learned while raising our boys was the importance of giving them freedom to grow.
The older they got the more we released control over things. It was the only they could learn to make wise choices as they prepared for adulthood.
But how do you open the door for freedom without allowing your child to run the household?
Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer have answers for that. They’re joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to talk about common teen-related issues parents face – and the solutions. Dr. Wilgus also unpacks the various layers of what he calls the “emancipation process”:
- Planned emancipation, freedom, and responsibility.
- Implementing planned emancipation.
- Expectations and consequences to keep in mind.
- Healthy communication and improving communication with your teen.
- School and activities/athletics.
- Screens, social media and video games.
- Friendships and dating.
Dr. Wilgus and Jessica offer practical strategies for transferring freedom and the responsibility to use it wisely to your child. Listen to my full conversation with Dr. Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer on your local radio station, online, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or listen on our free phone app.
Dr. Ken Wilgus’ book, Feeding the Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teenagers into Adulthood, is available for a gift of any amount. Give us a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459) or click here for more information. Thank you for your support.
Dr. Kenneth Wilgus is an author, speaker and licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of adolescents and families. Jessica Pfeiffer is a mom of four kids and co-host of Dr. Wilgus’ Feeding the Mouth That Bites You podcast.
