Healthy structure is one of the most important gifts parents can provide for their teens. Growing up in a house with structure will help teens to predict consequences, learn from their mistakes and improve healthy relationships between parents and teens.
Many adolescents will act as if they don’t like limits being placed on them; however, on some level they feel reassured. Structure is a very important part of growing up – learning about which behaviors are acceptable and which are not is an important lesson in life. It is important for teens to learn to live with rules and consequences while they are young to prepare them for a world where structure is present.
Commentary from Margaret Murchan, LCSW