Immaturity in Teens

Adolescents often act and reason with a ̶0;me-centered̶1; approach as they develop and mature. Your teen may make decisions and choices that seem foolish to most adults; however, she is learning how to reason and problem solve as she is learning new skills and maturing into an adult. While your teen explores the world around her, assesses situations and takes risks, immaturity may be obvious. Help her mature with active parenting and discussions that outline expected, mature behavior.

  1. Discuss Responsibilities

    • It̵7;s likely that your teen is overwhelmed with emotions and responsibilities as he takes on more responsibility at home, a part-time job, extracurricular activities and academic work. According to the website PatientPoint, it helps for parents to prompt open discussions about behavior they observe. If your teen is throwing a childish tantrum because he is frustrated, point out that he looks sad and discouraged and ask if he wants to talk about it. Respond positively to your child̵7;s interests and efforts while reinforcing the idea that maturing involves taking on challenges and more responsibility.

    Enforce Healthy Habits

    • Immaturity can prompt unhealthy habits in teens from time to time. She may protest showering, washing her hands or even wearing a seat belt; teens often feel invincible when they are immature. Enforce healthy practices and let your teen know that safety and hygiene are a priority. Open a discussion about dangerous behaviors, including drug and alcohol use, so that your teen can learn about the consequences to her future. Your teen may witness peers engaging in harmful behaviors, so discussing peer pressure may help relieve some of her concerns and stress.

    Establish House Rules

    • Whether your teen will admit it or not, he needs structure and responsibility to mature. If he is balking about household chores and curfews, ParentPoint recommends requesting his input and creating the house rules together to teach mature behavior. Negotiate what time he will need to be home on the weekends, what chores he will complete and when, and how he is expected to communicate with you on a daily basis. Allow your teen to make suggestions and set the consequences for immature behavior.

    Encourage Decision Making

    • One of the most common traits of mature teens is the ability to make decisions and voice opinions respectfully. According to Heartland Family Service in Omaha, Nebraska, maturity requires a teen to be assertive to defend and voice his position but also disagree without being disagreeable. Explain to your teen that you would like for him to make decisions on his own, but also emphasize that he must also know how to handle conflict. Discuss the pros and cons of his decisions and explore the rewards and consequences of those choices on a regular basis so your teen can see the long-term effects of his mature behavior.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Character-Building Activities for Teens
      The teenage years are a time of self-discovery for most people, and this stage of life can be challenging for some youngsters. Teenagers tend to focus inwardly, so it may be beneficial to help them notice other things in life that are equally importa
    • How to Make Teenagers Feel Special
      The pressure of media influences, peers at school and a busy family lifestyle can sometimes make your teen feel a little lost in the shuffle. After all, teens can compare themselves to everyone from friends to celebrities in magazines and often come
    • How to Know if a Teen Is Developmentally Delayed
      Adolescent development is a complex phenomenon involving biological, cognitive, psychological, behavioral and social indicators. As is the case with younger children, teens will develop at their own pace. The majority will navigate the various stages