Colman Noctor: Stepping back so our teens can learn how to make decisions

Developing good thinking and analysis abilities is a formative skill they need to learn and you can only teach that by getting out of their way 

Teenagers have different world views and priorities than their parents, which is how it is supposed to be. Picture: iStock

Colman Noctor

CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPIST

The ability to prioritise and be decisive are essential life skills that will stand us in good stead into adulthood. While the big decisions in our lives, like our choice of career or life partner, often occur in adulthood, decision-making skills are developed far earlier in life.