Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Parenting Teens Toward Adulthood (Part 1 of 2)
Aug 28, 2025
Dr. Ken Wilgus, a psychologist and author specializing in adolescent behavior, shares invaluable insights into transitioning teens to adulthood. He emphasizes the concept of 'planned emancipation,' encouraging parents to relinquish control gradually. Communication challenges are addressed, highlighting the need for a trusting environment for open dialogue. Wilgus also shares practical strategies for raising teenagers, focusing on fostering independence and adapting to modern societal shifts in maturity.
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Adolescence Is A Modern Construct
- Modern adolescence is a cultural invention that extends childhood unnaturally into the late teens.
- Teens after ~13 are developmentally young adults, so parenting must shift from teaching to training.
Implement Planned Emancipation
- Do practice planned emancipation: intentionally retreat parental control over time.
- Set a clock toward the end of parenting (finish high school) and hand over responsibilities stepwise.
Retreat One Territory At A Time
- Do map your teen's life into discrete domains (friends, money, school) and withdraw control domain-by-domain.
- Announce that these territories will become theirs and pull your troops out gradually.
