“Teenagers are old enough to take responsibility for their actions, their responsibilities, and their needs…students must learn how to define good and bad behavior themselves, and learn from the consequences of their actions…” – Army and Navy Academy
Grit, however, is not an inborn trait; boys need to learn from first-hand experience in leadership and character development programs at schools like Army & Navy Academy how to “get grit”. Although there’s no one list on how to instill grit, the following suggestions for parents are a good start to help your teenager cultivate and develop grit.
Grit Testing – 5 Tips for Your Teenager
- Allow your teenager to face challenges without stepping in to eliminate the issue or solve it for them. Ask them questions rather than provide your advice or opinions.
- Encourage your teen to look at outcomes from their actions and weigh pros and cons, as well as consequences from decisions and choices.
- Talk to your teenager about taking small steps that will lead to hitting goals. Help them figure out the next step and encourage them to learn time management skills.
- Choose schools with character development programs where teenagers learn to handle social, mental, and physical challenges while focusing on their values. Exercising responsibility, tenacity and resilience requires practice.
- Consider a military school for your teen like Army and Navy Academy, a college prep school for boys in grades 7-12, where grit is incorporated into academics, athletics, leadership training and the JROTC program.
- Ask Your Teen to Take the Grit Scale Test – In order to improve, it is important for teens to self-evaluate. Regardless of your teenager’s college or career goals, every teen can gain insight by taking Duckworth’s Grit Scale Test and/or by reading some of the grit-related books and workbooks noted below.
GRIT in Action: Leadership and Character Programs
Interested in exploring leadership training and character development at a top military boarding school in California? As noted in a Forbes article, every leader needs to develop grit and, there’s no doubt that we need to raise and mentor boys to become formidable leaders in their lives.
As a nationally recognized JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction, Army and Navy Academy is shaping boys into tomorrow’s leaders. The Academy’s notable alumni are a testament to how leadership training is pivotal to leadership roles in STEM careers, as well as in other fields such as: law, business, government, military service, and the arts.
A life changer for boys, the Academy integrates the best practices of great leadership into all aspects of academics and campus life. Teenage boys learn how to take the lead in their own lives by following a structured day, managing their time effectively, setting goals, and by facing challenges with tenacity and grit.
Students attending Army Navy acquire real world skills as they lead and guide others. The Academy’s highly successful youth leadership development program at Army & Navy fosters a growth mindset. Some of the many outcomes of JROTC and Leadership Education Training (LET) classes include: grit, Independence, resilience, motivation, self-discipline, confidence, and integrity.
ANA sports and athletics also cultivates determination, grit, and tenacity. Army Navy Academy CIF championships in a number of sports are a testament to athletic resilience and grit as athletes play sports including: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, lacrosse, wrestling and other sports.
Grit helps students aim high academically, so it is no surprise that the Army and Navy Academy’s college matriculation includes top universities such as:: Dartmouth, Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, Rutgers, NYU, University of Chicago, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC Berkeley, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the highly selective service academies like West Point and Annapolis.
Regardless of your teenager’s future choices, Army and Navy Academy will provide him with the mental, physical, social, and ethical tools needed to take the lead in his life. He will get grit at ANA!
Resources:
Books available on Amazon:
- “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth
- “The Grit Workbook for Kids: CBT Skills to Help Kids Cultivate a Growth Mindset and Build Resilience” by Elisa Nebolsine, LCSW
- “Grit for Kids; 16 Top Steps for Developing Grit, Passion, Willpower and Perseverance in Kids for Self-Confidence and a Successful Life” by Lee David Daniels
- Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness, by Rick Handon, Ph.D.
- “Resilience, Why Things Bounce Back” by Andrew Zolli
Explore Military School: Located on a beachfront campus in Southern California’s Carlsbad Village, Army and Navy Academy is a college preparatory school with boarding and day options. Geared exclusively for boys in grades 7-12, we are a model school for boys in middle school and high school and are ranked in the top five boarding schools in California.
Army & Navy Academy Admission Office:
Phone: 888-762-2338