Teen Contracts: Five Steps To Writing A Teen Contract

Many parents do not realize that most teens need and want to be held accountable for their behavior.  One of the main purposes of a teen contract is to take the emotional frustration and disagreements away from any argument while making all parties involved accountable.  Writing a teen contract ensures that the parents and teen are communicating and working together to meet the accountability need.  A teen contract will provide the teen and parent with a written document that contains expectations (often called rules), consequences, time lines and a process to follow.  The teen contract should also provide who is responsibility for “doing what” and the privileges earned by meeting the expectations of the contract.

Teen contracts should be written on paper or may be purchased at:  Teen Contracts or Youth Contracts

Five Steps to Writing a Teen Contract  

1. Write down who is involved in the contract process.  Names and signatures should be written down and signed after all and by all parties who agree.

2. Write the expectation or goal that the teen needs to achieve or accomplish.

3. Write the privilege, incentive or what the teen earned for reaching the goal.

4. Write the consequence, discipline or action to be taken for breaking or not meeting the expectation or goal.

5. Write the start and end date of the contract.  This part of the contract may also include who will monitor the contract and who determines if the expectation was achieved or not achieved.