What is metacognition and how does it affect your teen? 

All of us face situations in life which overwhelm us, making us incapable of handling them.  Your young teen, too, will face these in the form of a difficult test at school, dealing with bullies, trying out something new, etc. The bottom-line is that situations like these are absolutely normal and expected. However, the problem arises when your teen prematurely assumes that there is no way to get through them, nor is there any solution. This mindset sets one up for failure. Now, the question is, how can you get your teen to combat these problems? The answer is: Metacognitive activities. Read on to know more about metacognition.  

What is metacognition? 
Fundamentally, metacognition works through the employment of self-reflection. It enables an individual to draw awareness and assess the things we know, to think about what it truly means to think, and to introspect. Some key processes which are a part of metacognition are creating plans, assessing situations, problem-solving and decision making, remembering and processing information, etc. Known to be essential for developing emotional maturity, abilities related to metacognition are sharper in young teens than in kids. However, parents must encourage their teens to consciously hone them further. 

How to help your teen hone metacognitive abilities 
The most important thing parents can do to encourage the metacognitive process for teens is to nudge them to take some time to think deeper. If your teen assigns certain labels to specific tasks, he is already limiting his potential. For example, if he believes that trigonometry is something he will never improve in, he has already decided the outcome. In such a situation, remind him to ask himself why he believes so and if there are any practical ways he can adopt to improve. It’s as simple as taking a step back from the situation, creating space, and assessing it effectively without jumping to conclusions. 

How are metacognitive abilities beneficial for teens? 
Teens who rank higher in metacognitive skills have a tendency of producing better academic performances than those who rank low. These skills are not just confined to the classroom, they are as important for social interactions, dealing with peer pressure, failure, embarking new journeys in life, etc. It benefits teens with a calmer, more mature thinking approach and ensures that they don’t make hasty decisions or erroneous assumptions.