Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, authors of The Disengaged Teen, join us to discuss their insights on teenage disengagement and share strategies to foster better learning, emotional well-being, and overall development in teenagers.

When it comes to our teens' education, many of us attempt to walk a tightrope, balancing between overly optimistic perceptions and stark realities. As parents, we often perceive our teens as more engaged in learning than they truly are. What we might not realize is that many teenagers experience varying levels of disengagement during their educational journey, which can affect their overall growth and happiness. Understanding these dynamics within our children can drastically change our approach and thereby foster better communication and support.

In this episode, we explore the science of teenage disengagement with Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, the authors of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better. Jenny, an award-winning journalist, and Rebecca, a senior fellow at Brookings and professor at Georgetown University, come together to bring attention to the various ways teens engage with school and learning. Through research and extensive interviews, they’ve identified different modes of learning engagement that teens experience: Resistor, Passenger, Achiever, and Explorer modes.

Their framework serves as a tool to help us recognize and support our teens based on their unique engagement level. The authors explain how crucial it is to tailor our approach to these modes, especially as teenage learning engagement can directly impact their emotional well-being and future success. Jenny and Rebecca provide insightful observations, such as why boys might be more prone to being in Passenger mode and how fostering agency is key to shifting them into Explorer mode.

Understanding the Four Modes

Jenny and Rebecca delve deep into the characteristics of each mode. They urge parents to consider intentional questions beyond the simple "How was your day?"–questions that encourage teens to express more than routine responses. They also stress the importance of recognizing early signs of disengagement, especially when children are content with coasting and not pushing themselves to explore or challenge what they know.

Achiever mode might initially sound ideal, with teens appearing diligent and high-performing, but the conversation reveals a hidden downside. Unhappiness in Achiever mode—an inability to cope with failure and a fixation on perfectionism—can lead to mental health challenges.

Encouraging Curiosity and Agency

The authors enlighten us about the importance of curiosity and the role of perceived agency in encouraging teens to shift from Passenger or Achiever modes into the coveted Explorer mode. Rather than telling teenagers what to pursue, parents are encouraged to notice their children’s interests and support them, regardless of whether it aligns with traditional goals, such as college admissions.

Jenny and Rebecca also emphasize the importance of giving teens free time to rest their minds and explore creative unconventional thought. They discuss how moments of unstructured time foster creativity and lead to "Transcendent Thinking," a deeper level of cognitive engagement that comes from meaningful, self-driven inquiry.

Breaking the Nagging-Procrastination Cycle

Many parents find themselves trapped in a cycle of nagging and procrastination, striving to get their children to complete their tasks. Jenny and Rebecca suggest practical methods to help break this cycle by prompting kids to make their own plans and holding them accountable to those plans—ultimately encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning.

In the Episode...

Our conversation with Jenny and Rebecca reveals critical insights into teenage learning engagement. Beyond the topics discussed, we also delve into:

The impact of social expectations on teenage learning
How parental expectations can inadvertently contribute to perfectionism
The benefits of redefining success for our kids
Specific strategies for helping teens open up about their educational experiences

Feeling equipped to tackle teenage disengagement? Hear the full episode to help your teen learn, feel, and live better. Don't forget to subscribe to Talking to Teens for more illuminating conversations.

Jon Lovett

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