“Letting go” and “being there” at the same time

As your child gets older, the expectation is that they take more responsibility for their actions — especially with regard to punctuality, learning, and behavior. Many parents might be surprised to learn that research shows that even though adolescents desire autonomy, they do not desire it when it comes to education. “High School education students believe that they can do better at school if they know that their families are interested in their schoolwork and expect them to succeed,” (Harvard Family Research) thus challenging the prevalent view that adolescents do not want their parents involved at all.

Parents who hold high expectations for their teens, communicate these clearly, and encourage their adolescents to work hard in order to attain them, can make a difference in their student’s success.

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