Parenting Teens in 2025: Logical Consequences vs. Punishment

Bruh, parenting a teenager in 2025 is no joke. You set a curfew, they break it, and suddenly you’re standing there at 1 a.m. debating whether to ground them, take their phone, or just scream into a pillow. No cap, half the time it feels like nothing works.

Here’s the thing: not all consequences are the same. There’s a difference between handing out logical consequences (LC) and tossing out mild punishments (MP).

Logical consequences: miss curfew, you lose the keys next weekend. Direct connection.

Mild punishments: miss curfew, you’re scrubbing the bathroom. Random. Doesn’t connect.

Researchers have actually studied this — and the results aren’t mid. When parents use logical consequences and explain their reasoning, teens are way more likely to comply (even if they pretend they’re not listening). Over time, they actually start to internalize the rule. But when parents rely on mild punishments, reasoning loses its power. Teens tune you out, compliance drops, and all you’ve done is create more resentment.

So yeah, yelling “because I said so” while taking away their Xbox might feel good in the moment, but it’s not teaching them anything. Tie the consequence directly to the behavior. It’s cleaner, it makes sense, and deep down, they know it.

Parenting teens will never be easy, but if you want to win more than you lose, ditch the random punishments. Logical consequences backed by actual reasoning? That’s how you stay in the game.

References

Robichaud, J.-M., Mageau, G. A., Soenens, B., Mabbe, E., Kil, H., Frenette, J., & Roy, M. (2024). Should parents combine reasoning with firm control to nurture adolescent socialization? Comparing logical consequences with mild punishments. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000409