This challenge is for teens who have their thumbs on their phones all the time, texting their friends to make plans to meet. The next time you have to make an appointment for your teen – doctor, orthodontist, college admissions office, department of motor vehicles – whatever it may be: have your teen make the call. Speaking on the phone to strangers is a lifeskill your son or daughter needs to learn. Yes, it may be simpler for you to make this call yourself, but resist the temptation to take the easy way out. If necessary, rehearse with your teen in advance or write out a cheat sheet. For some teens this will be a social courage challenge, for others an emotional one, and for still others it may be an intellectual one. But rest assured, if your teen has forgotten that phones were originally designed for speaking and listening with, this will be a challenge!
