Parenting older teens, ages 15 to 17, is about guiding from the sidelines as they move closer to adulthood. These years are marked by a growing desire for freedom, deeper thinking about the future, and more complex emotional and social experiences.
Effective parenting at this stage means offering support without control, respecting their increasing autonomy, and staying connected through trust, honesty, and open dialogue. Even as they push for independence, teens still need to know their parents are there—steady, available, and rooting for them.
Developmental milestones
This is a time of changes for how teenagers think, feel, and interact with others, and how their bodies grow. Most girls will be physically mature by now, and most will have completed puberty. Boys might still be maturing physically during this time. Your teen might have concerns about their body size, shape, or weight. Eating disorders also can be common, especially among girls.
During this time, your teen is developing their unique personality and opinions. Relationships with friends are still important, yet your teen will have other interests as they develop a more clear sense of who they are. This is also an important time to prepare for more independence and responsibility; many teenagers start working, and many will be leaving home soon after high school.
Here is some information on how teens develop.
Emotional/social changes
Adolescents might:
- Have more interest in romantic relationships and sexuality.
- Go through less conflict with parents.
- Show more independence from parents.
- Have a deeper capacity for caring and sharing and for developing more intimate relationships.
- Spend less time with parents and more time with friends.
- Feel a lot of sadness or depression, which can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, and other problems.
Thinking and learning
Children in this age group might:
- Learn more defined work habits.
- Show more concern about future school and work plans.
- Be better able to give reasons for their own choices, including about what is right or wrong.
Positive parenting tips
Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your teen during this time:
- Talk with your teen about their concerns and pay attention to any changes in their behavior. Ask them if they have had suicidal thoughts, particularly if they seem sad or depressed. Asking about suicidal thoughts will not cause them to have these thoughts, but it will let them know that you care about how they feel. Seek professional help if necessary.
- Show interest in your teen’s school and extracurricular interests and activities and encourage them to become involved in activities such as sports, music, theater, and art.
- Encourage your teen to volunteer and become involved in civic activities in the community.
- Compliment your teen and celebrate their efforts and accomplishments.
- Show affection for your teen. Spend time together doing things you enjoy.
- Respect your teen’s opinion. Listen to them without playing down their concerns.
- Encourage your teen to develop solutions to problems or conflicts. Help your teenager learn to make good decisions. Create opportunities for them to use their own judgment, and be available for advice and support.
- If your teen engages in interactive internet media such as games, chat rooms, and instant messaging, encourage them to make good decisions about what they post and the amount of time they spend on these activities.
- If your teen works, use the opportunity to talk about expectations, responsibilities, and other ways of behaving respectfully in a public setting.
- Talk with your teen and help them plan ahead for difficult or uncomfortable situations. Discuss what they can do if they are in a group and someone is using drugs or under pressure to have sex, or is offered a ride by someone who has been drinking.
- Respect your teen’s need for privacy.
- Encourage your teen to get enough sleep and exercise, and to eat healthy, balanced meals.
Talk with your teen about suicide and pay attention to warning signs. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth 15 through 24 years of age.
Safety first
You play an important role in keeping your child safe―no matter how old they are. Here are a few tips to help protect your child:
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of driving and how to be safe on the road. You can steer them in the right direction. “Parents Are the Key” has steps that can help. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death from unintentional injury among teens, yet few teens take measures to reduce their risk of injury.
- Remind your teen to wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle. Unintentional injuries resulting from participation in sports and other activities are common.
- Talk with your teen about suicide and pay attention to warning signs. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth 15 through 24 years of age.
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of drugs, drinking, smoking, and risky sexual activity. Ask them what they know and think about these issues, and share your feelings with them. Listen to what they say and answer any questions honestly and directly.
- Discuss with your teen the importance of choosing friends who do not act in dangerous or unhealthy ways.
- Know where your teen is and whether a responsible adult is present. Make plans with them for when they will call you, where you can find them, and what time you expect them home.
Healthy bodies
- Encourage your teen to be physically active. They might join a team sport or take up an individual sport. Helping with household tasks such as mowing the lawn, walking the dog, or washing the car also will keep your teen active.
- Meal time is very important for families. Eating together helps teens make better choices about the foods they eat, promotes healthy weight, and gives your family members time to talk with each other.
- Keep television sets out of your teen’s bedroom. Set limits for screen time, including cell phones, computers, video games, and other devices, and develop a family media plan.
- Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night: For teenagers 13–18 years of age, this is 8–10 hours per 24 hours (including naps).
Talking with teens about consent can feel awkward, but it’s a critical conversation for their safety and well-being. Listen to our pocast as we explore practical ways parents can open the conversation, even when their teen seems unwilling to engage, and discuss situations where consent is not possible, such as when someone is under the influence or pressured.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Positive Parenting Tips: Adolescence (15–17 years old), hhttps://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/adolescence-15-17-years.html | Public domain. Published May 2024. Retrieved May 2025.
