Getting the best out of your teen is easier than you think. A lot of the time, there are solutions that we don’t think of because they are too simple. Instead, we try to complicate things when there really is no need. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some involved parenting to get the best out of your teen and help them grow towards independence before college.

Show Up

The first, and arguably most important thing that you are going to need to do is to show up. Kids and teens live by example, so if you are not showing up, why would they? Your kids need you to show up, be there, support them and do everything that you say you will. You don’t realize it at the time, but your teens are constantly watching you and learning from you. When people talk about having a mini me, this is literal. Your kids are either going to follow what you do, or go in the complete opposite direction, depending on a number of factors, though the former is the more likely of the two options.

If you show up, your kids will know that you care. It really is as simple as that. Showing up is the most important part to your teens, so make sure that you do this. 

Encouragement

Another thing that you should be thinking about is encouragement. Are you encouraging your teens to do everything that they want to do such as go to college? If you’re not, this is bound to come back and bite you. Of course you are allowed your own opinions, however at the end of the day, the most important consideration needs to be what your teen wants. If they want to take up a certain sport, let them. Be there at the games so that they know you support them, and do the same with any kind of club that they join.

Teach Them Life Skills

The final thing that we are going to mention is teaching them life skills that they can use at college and beyond. By this, we mean teach them to do things like cook, clean and notice when something is broken. Get them to make phone calls such as to organize air conditioning repair so that they get used to this. There are so many teens who are worried about talking to strangers and on the phone, but this should help to avoid this. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do if you want to get the best out of your teens. The thing that a lot of people seem to forget is that teens need their parents in order to be the best person they can be, so you have a lot to do with what happens. If you take the advice that we have given above, you are going to find that your teen is giving everything to be the best person possible.