Trends in Child Development Pt. 4
By Mimi Rothschild
For those of you who haven’t been following this week’s series of posts, please check out the last few entries before reading these tips. It will give you some context.
As adolescence stretches far into young-adulthood, it’s clear that homeschooling parents need to do something to help their teens develop into healthy, productive, mature adults. Here are some things that parents can do to help smooth out the transition from the homeschooling nest into the mean, cruel world.
Encourage part-time jobs
Some parents are under the impression that teens should not have to worry about getting a job. After all, they’ll be working for the rest of their lives. Nothing could be further from the truth! A part-time job is an excellent way to prepare teens for life in the workplace. Every teen should have the opportunity to make some extra money while learning valuable real-world skills. The extra money that they will earn will be tremendously helpful while they get on their feet. It’s also excellent for college applications and resumes.
Establish strong fiscal responsibility
Young adults living at home with parents is a disturbing trend among our youth. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to get out of the house and strike out on my own. Today, college loans and a competitive job market for college grads ensure that teens will have a tough time making the transition into adulthood. You can help your child make the switch by instilling money management techniques in your homeschoolers. There are a variety of books available for such a purpose.
Establish consequences for mistakes
There are few things more damaging to a child’s development than removing natural consequences out of pity. When a teenager messes up, and he or she eventually will, it’s important that parents don’t bail their children out all the time. By not doing so, you are setting up your children for a life of dependence on you, on others, or on the state.
De-mystify perpetual adolescence
The concept of perpetual adolescence connotes the idolization of youth as being something that adults should strive towards, even as they age. This concept is highly correlated with Rosseau’s “noble savage.” It’s important that we instill a respect for the elder in our children. We want our teens to look towards adulthood with anticipation, eager to experience the freedom and autonomy that comes with being an adult. Today, young adults look at their lives with an “it’s all downhill from here” attitude. To break this perception, explain to your teens the benefits of adulthood from an early age.
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