Involve Teens in Decision-Making

Teens need a value system to guide their decisions. They also need skills and confidence to stand up for decisions they know are right. Parents and other adults can help develop these qualities by asking teens to take part in important family, school and community activities. This gives youth the chance to work with and learn from adult leaders. At the same time, teens have skills and talents to share that will benefit others.

Adults often will be surprised at how much teens can contribute to a project or decision. Teens can add energy, ideas and commitment. By working with adults on meaningful matters, teens learn a lot about decision-making, values and responsibility.

Here are some tips to encourage youth to be involved. Involve adolescents in family decision-making. These decisions could include buying a new family car, planning a vacation, organizing a family party or planning meals for the week. Ask youth to help plan and lead school and after-school activities. Youth are much more likely to join clubs, teams and groups when they have been involved in planning the activity from the start. Ask youth to join community groups. Appoint teen members of coalitions, committees and advisory groups. Ask for their ideas and follow through on those that are promising. Invite and expect youth to take a real role in these groups and activities. Ask for their ideas and assign tasks that will require youth to do research and learn new information. Ask for their opinions and then ask them to explain their reasoning. Hold youth accountable for their decisions and assignments, and don’t forget to show appreciation and support for youth involvement.