Teen Tidbits, Day 5: The Teenager’s World Is No Longer Black & White: How to Use That to Your Advantage as a Parent

Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball
Teen Tidbits, Day 5: The Teenager’s World Is No Longer Black & White: How to Use That to Your Advantage as a Parent
Jan 30, 2026
Katie Kimball

Today’s teen tidbit is number five, and it gets right to the heart of what’s actually happening in your teen’s brain right now!

Somewhere around ages 11 or 12, kids move from a black and white way of thinking into a world full of gray, nuance, and questions, which is why “because I said so” suddenly stops working. (And honestly, that’s a good thing.) 

In this quick episode, we’ll talk about why teens are wired to push boundaries again, how that’s developmentally healthy, and how we as parents can level up by keeping strong boundaries while inviting conversation, choice, and understanding. I’ll also share why cooking has become one of my favorite safe places to practice all of this, from knowing when it’s okay to bend the rules to understanding when rules exist for a really good reason. 

Let’s dive in. 

Get the parenting video series now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenvids or check out Teens Cook Real Food at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/teenscook


Resources We Mention for Boundaries for Teens

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
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