Research by Carol Dweck* and others shows that enhancing and appealing to teens’ sense of status and respect among peers and adults can motivate and engage them. During a time like this when there is so much beyond our control, it is important to help teens to become more self-aware and to improve their sense of agency in their own learning and lives—to feel seen, heard, and respected. The organization, VIA, dedicated to character development using positive psychology, has a free survey for teens and adults—a tool that can be used to help us identify our strengths. After taking the survey, help your child to put their best qualities to use by doing something intentionally every day with that quality: For example, if a student wants to capitalize on kindness as a strength, he might perform a random act of kindness for a peer, write a thank-you note to a teacher, etc.
Take the survey online:
https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/surveys/takesurvey
See the research online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318166019_Why_Interventions_to_Influence_Adolescent_Behavior_Often_Fail_but_Could_Succeed
