The ability to plan ahead and make choices is one of the social competencies outlined by Search Institute as an asset for developing teens. To help them develop planning and decision-making skills, it is important to provide them with opportunities to think and plan long-term. Here are a few ways you can take action.
- Let your teen help you plan a family party or other event. Give them real responsibilities, like setting a budget, doing the shopping, inviting guests, and delegating to other family members.
- Help your kids develop a plan to finish long-term assignments on time with minimal stress. Your Learning Coach at Phoenix is a good resource to help with this. Give them day planners to keep track of activities and responsibilities.
- Talk them through planning ahead (in the short term, long term, or very long term) by asking “What if?” questions.
Search Institute has identified 40 building blocks of healthy development, known as Developmental Assets, that help adolescents to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Visit us here every Wednesday to read about different ways that you, your family, and your community can take action to help equip our young people develop resilience and achieve success in life.
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