As parents, the numerous pressures our teens face every day can be just as – if not more – overwhelming to us than these pressures are to our teens.
It’s easy to spend too much time thinking and worrying about our sons and daughters falling victim to risky behaviors, like over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse.
Conversely, sometimes we can get caught up in the “not my teen” mindset and never actually discuss risky behaviors with our teens.
Neither of these approaches are beneficial in raising strong teens who will say no to dangerous activities.
That said, what is beneficial is taking steps to help your teen navigate this transitional period in his or her life so he or she can confidently avoid and resist partaking in potentially harmful behaviors.
Use these four guidelines to raise a teenager who dares to say no: