But testing the waters of adulthood is a complicated venture, and can lead to conflict. Parents need to be prepared for such conflicts. Dr. Lynch explained parents also need to know that adolescents will sometimes both welcome and fear independence. The parent's responsibility in these situations is to set guidelines and establish limits to reduce the teen's anxiety about independence. As the teen grows older and is better able to reason and make responsible decisions, the rules and boundaries can be renegotiated.
Negotiation is a valuable learning experience for teens.
Children should be encouraged to negotiate for privileges and responsibilities. Parents, of course, should keep the final decision-making power. Decisions about which freedoms to allow your adolescents should depend on many factors, Dr. Lynch said, including your child's maturity level, your neighborhood, the time of day or night, the destination and family values. Dr. Lynch said.