Overview

• A C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital poll of 1,047 U.S. parents of 13- to 18-year-olds found fewer than half comfortable leaving their teen alone in a hotel room and only one in three willing to let them walk to a nearby coffee shop.
• Public health expert Sarah Clark warns that overprotective parenting can limit teenagers’ development of confidence and essential life skills.
• Two-thirds of parents said they trusted their teens to follow household rules even when unsupervised on vacation.
• Researchers note a long-term decline in unsupervised play aligns with rising adolescent anxiety and depression rates.
• Clark’s safety tips include setting clear check-in routines, starting with small solo tasks, using safety apps, and treating mistakes as learning opportunities.