Parenting Pointers: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" enjoyed widespread success with its look at independence, interdependence, and continuous improvement. His son, Sean Covey, has written several books that continue looking at the original habits and how they relate to youth. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is available by itself, or with a personal workbook, to really help the lessons hit home. In fact, there are schools that incorporate the book into coursework to help students become more effective.

Even if you've read the original book, I encourage you to read this one with your teen. It's not condescending, but is easy to understand. The workbook is practical and doesn't take much time, and it's worth it for your teen to invest in forming good habits.

You should read the book to really get the full explanation for each habit, but here are my favorite tips:
- Be proactive. It's much more effective than being reactive.
- Think win-win. A person's mindset makes a huge difference.
- Seek first to understand, then be understood. This is a huge step in creating a habit of respect for others.