1. Negotiate Limits
While certain activities should always be off limits (such as drunk driving or drug use), most situations can be negotiated. Work with your child to set appropriate limits. For instance, if he wants to attend a party where drugs or alcohol may be present, and you do not want him to go, try to find a middle ground. For instance, you can give your teen permission to attend the party if he agrees to take a breathalyzer test when he gets home. Be sure to lay out the appropriate repercussions when you set these limits. If your teen attends the party and proceeds to fail the breathalyzer test, he should know ahead of time he will be grounded for set amount of time.
2. Provide Incentives
Teens will be inspired to behave well and prove themselves worthy when future increases in liberties are used as incentives. Let your child know her freedom to make decisions and come and go as she pleases will be increased as she proves herself responsible. Teens need these additional freedoms as they mature to be able to manage their oncoming role as adults.
3. Take Away Liberties When They Are Abused
Teens will certainly make occasional errors as they adjust to the responsibilities associated with their new liberties. They are going to miss curfews and fender benders may be in their future as new drivers. Though maddening to parents, these types of mistakes are probable and perhaps even necessary lessons. A parent should try not to react hastily and harshly. If your teen, however, consistently ignores a weekend curfew or drives in a reckless manner, you should revoke his freedoms (at least for a time). It may be aggravating to deal with a sullen teenager every weekend for a month or two but taking away these freedoms for a set period of time will likely produce more careful behavior in the future.
