By Sean
Covey
For
teens, life is not a playground, it’s a jungle. And, being the parent of a
teenager isn’t any walk in the part, either. In his book, The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey attempts to provide “a compass to
help teens and their parents navigate the problem they encounter daily.”
How will
they deal with peer pressure? Motivation? Success or lack thereof? The life of
a teenager is full of tough issues and life-changing decisions. As a parent,
you are responsible to help them learn the principles and ethics that will help
them to reach their goals and live a successful life.
While it’s
all well and good to tell kids how to live their lives, “teens watch what you
do more than they listen to what you say,” Covey says. So practice what you
preach. Your example can be very influential.
Covey himself has done well by following a parent's example. His dad, Stephen Covey, wrote the book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, which sold over 15 million copies. Sean's a chip off the old bloc, and no slacker. His own book has run in a more than respectable 2 million copies sold. Here are his seven habits, and some ideas for helping your teen understand apply them.