- The ethic of reciprocity, also referred to as the golden rule, is a simple yet profound principle to live life by. The rule is to treat others how you wish to be treated. You do not want to be lied to, so don't lie to people. You do not want to be cheated, so don't cheat. You want to be treated with courtesy and respect, so treat others with courtesy and respect. Many adults try to live by this rule and pass it onto their teens.
- Teenagers are constantly bombarded by outside influences, otherwise known as peer pressure. Learning how to live and deal with peer pressure is a step in a positive learning experience. A teenager should be taught not to rely on the opinions or beliefs of others or be coerced into partaking in activities that are immoral or improper. Teens should be encouraged to quell these negative influences and think for themselves.
- Teenagers should be made aware about the economy, jobs and money. Teaching financial literacy to teenagers can plant the seed so that as adults, they can make sound financial decisions. Entrepreneurship can be taught at this age, such as by making and selling crafts at weekend flea markets. The Northwestern Mutual Foundation recommends teaching teenagers about savings and how banks pay interest on savings accounts. A positive idea teens may respond to is that they can spend money but also should set some aside for savings.
- Charitable giving is another positive learning experience for teenagers. It instills a sense of caring for those less fortunate. Charitable giving does not need to be strictly giving money to a charity. Other forms include volunteering for various social service organizations, such as cleaning up a field or helping at a food bank. Reporter Pauline Jelinek of the World Volunteer Web cited First Lady Laura Bush in 2005, when the first lady stated that about 15.5 million teenagers are involved in some form of volunteer work.
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