After a week off we're back with a discussion on Personal Freedom for Teens. We discuss how the proper balance of freedom and boundaries is important for allowing our teens to grow, mature and take on new responsibilities. We'll look at some of the issues that parents face when granting personal freedoms to teens. We'll also look at some of the temptations and consequences of too much personal freedom in teens.We take a look at how to best balance the need for freedom for teens to explore who they are and who they want to be while still maintaining that layer of protection that all parents feel for their children.

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Show Notes

IntroductionsInsights Into Teens Episode 75 "Personal Freedom"My mature and responsible co-host Madison Whalen  What is Personal FreedomFreedom helps teens learn more about how to take care of themselves and interact well with others. But granting too much freedom is just as bad as giving too little.  Five Facts about Teenage Personal Freedomhttp://www.imom.com/the-five-facts-of-teenage-freedom/https://bit.ly/2DpU1BSFact #1: Freedom wields a greater influence than parents or peers.Over the years, many studies (and parents!) have asked whether parents or peers exert a bigger influence over kids’ behavior. Research suggests this question misses the main point. When freedom is added to the mix, it seems to far outstrip the influence of any person. Look at the astounding survey results.  Question: When you do something that your parents would disapprove of, what is the best description for the reason that you do it? Choose one answer.4% answered with “I’m just being rebellious against my parents.”6% answered with “I’m just doing what my friends want me to do.”89% answered with “I’m just pursuing my freedom and my ability to do what I want to do.”  Question: Think of something that you really want to do that your parents might disapprove of. Which statement most closely describes you? Choose one answer.22% answered with “If I want to do something, I will usually find a way to do it, no matter what my parents think or say.”31% answered with “Even if I really want to do something and even if my parents would never know, I generally don’t do it if they would disapprove.”47% answered with “If I want to do something, I will usually find a way to do it… although I’d hope my parents wouldn’t think I was being too bad.”  Fact #2: Under the influence of freedom, kids may do stupid things.Like addicts under the influence of a real drug, kids high on the thrill of freedom may not be thinking clearly. To complicate