Teenagers are infamous for being rebellious, immature and irresponsible. Instilling good habits and values in them can be difficult, but the reward of seeing your child make sound decisions and flourish in life is well worth your parenting efforts. Here are three tips to help you teach your teenager responsibility.

1. Give Compelling Reasons for Your Rules

At this age, kids often begin to scrutinize ideas and rules that they would have previously accepted when they were younger. If no compelling reason is given, teens are likely to reject and rebel against such restrictions, deeming them arbitrary and unfair. To avoid rejection of your parental rules, explain the logic behind them.

When your teenager begins driving, make sure that he or she understands that you have set limits for specific reasons. You can also explain the role of insurance agents South Ozone Park NY when and if the time of need arises. Your teen will also appreciate being spoken to like an adult and may feel more compelled to honor your requests with responsible behavior.

2. Lead by Example

Your teen has quite a bit going on in life. Hormones are raging, school and sports are stressful and peer pressure is ever-present and mounting. At the same time, your kid is trying to fit in and find his or her identity. Your teen is looking for a role model to emulate, and that’s where you come in as the parent. Strive to live like the reliable, conscientious adult that you would like your child to become.

3. Be Consistent With Consequences

Consistency is paramount in parenting. Both parents need to be abundantly clear about expectations for their child and about the consequences of failing to meet them. By consistently upholding consequences, your teen learns the clear boundaries between responsible actions and irresponsible actions.

The teenage years are especially formative. Your teen is growing up quickly, and you want to make sure that he or she becomes a responsible adult. As the parent, you are best positioned to guide your teen to become a responsible adult who makes smart choices.