How to Stop Teen Procrastination
Simple instructions fall on deaf ears, chores are incomplete, studies are neglected. Your teen has good intentions but activities and friends divert his attention from tasks that he should be performing. This results in stress when last-minute efforts are required. Procrastination is a common trait among teens, but there are methods to keep them on target until they follow through on assignments and duties.
Instructions
Observe your teen at work. Does he put off chores and assignments until the last minute? Or does he wait until it is impossible to finish the tasks at all? He may start his work with good intentions, but a television show or phone call may divert him from his tasks. Whatever the case, procrastination is a serious problem among teens, resulting in frustration, low grades and inferior or incomplete work. Time management skills need to be learned, and the first step is to observe your teen to find out exactly how he is sabotaging himself. Give your teen the tools to be successful. A quiet corner with no distractions can be a haven for homework. Using a timer so he will work for a specified time before rewarding himself with a snack or phone call can also be effective. Banning cellphones and television viewing until duties are performed can help young teens stay on task. Writing down goals that need to be completed within a specific time frame can assist a teen in pacing himself to finish his work in a timely manner. Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable parts. If your teen has a homework project that is due in three weeks, show him how to break it down over the time allotted so he will not feel overwhelmed and tempted to wait until the very last day to complete it. Monitor his progress and help him achieve his goals in a timely, steady and satisfactory manner. Over time and with parental assistance, he will learn to do this on his own. Reward your teen for the tasks and assignments he finishes in a timely manner. It can be as simple as honest praise or a special dessert at dinnertime. For larger completed projects, a special outing or extra privileges may be more appropriate. Whatever the case, parental approval and recognition of efforts made can go far in encouraging future successes. Sometimes it is the style of parenting that comes into play. According to an education.com article titled "Why Kids Procrastinate and How to Help," Dr. Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University, advises that it is often the stricter, more authoritarian parenting that causes teens to procrastinate. The teens cannot outwardly rebel so they react by delaying the behavior the parent expects of them. Previous:No
