How do we help our children make the right decisions? Is my teen ready to face peer pressure? Will they say “no” to underage drinking?

As a parent coach and an educator, I’ve often received questions like this from concerned parents who want to lead their kids down the right path to make positive choices. But it’s important to understand that decision-making skills are like muscles – you have to use them to build strength and confidence. Decision-making exercises help your children acquire the tools and self-confidence they need to navigate difficult or challenging situations on their own.

Here are a few ways you can facilitate meaningful conversations that help build your children’s decision-making abilities:

1.    Give your children choices, without sharing your opinion.

Present new, unrelatable scenarios and provide your children with choices. Your conversation will help your kids practice thinking through the problem and looking at things from different perspectives.  If you start with scenarios that hit too close for comfort, your kids may be afraid to share their opinion.

2.    Explain the consequences.

Instead of providing your opinions and influencing your children’s thought process, try explaining the consequences so they can see the impact of the choices they make. Play out each scenario so your kids understand the full extent of what consequences – both positive and negative – could result from decisions.

3.    Ask your children to share their opinion.

As parents, we share many lessons with our kids, and this is our chance to give them the microphone. Ask for your children’s opinion – it’s a form of practice and a confidence builder. When they’re approached with these situations in “real life,” they’ll be better prepared to make positive choices.

Give these tips a try, and keep practicing with your kids to help build their decision-making muscles.