Sometimes, parents have a hard time realizing that their kids are more than capable of performing certain tasks and taking care of themselves. From small household chores like making the bed in the morning, sorting out school books, doing homework to major decisions like getting admission in a college – some parents overdo for teens. This attitude tips the balance which is essential for good parenting. Let’s have a look at how parents manage to spoil their kids or make them dependent by overdoing things for them.

Buying unnecessary gifts

Parents may have to go out of their monthly budget to buy a tablet for their teen so that the child does not feel bad among his peers with expensive gadgets. But does this help the child in understanding the importance of facing problems head on and finding a solution for them? Does this approach make a teen responsible adult in the future? Psychologists believe buying unnecessary presents and valuables for kids makes them ineffective when faced with a problem. They would also become completely dependent on their parents, without using their abilities to make a livelihood for themselves in the future.

Balance in expectations

The key to raise a responsible teen is to create a balance between the expectations of a parent and the abilities of the children. If parents expect from their children way more than their capacity, it will develop low self-esteem in them. Similarly, if parents do too much for their kids, without even being asked to, then they make their kids perpetually dependent on them. If you kick start your teen’s work – school or job – then there are high chances they will fall back on you when faced with the slightest of problems. Therefore, parents would have to be realistic with their expectations towards their teens and give them room to grow as an independent adult.

Accountable for actions

Despite constant reminders, your 16-year-old has been given a ticket for texting while driving. What will be your reaction? Will you pat your teen on the hand and ask to be careful in the future or take some serious measures? The best way to deal with such situations is to make your child be accountable for their actions and warn them of dire consequences in the future. Let your teen pay for the ticket and confiscate the car keys unless the lesson has been learnt. Accountability for one’s actions is extremely necessary to develop into a responsible person.