Parents and grown up children

NPR - Parents and their adult children are much closer emotionally now than they have been in past generations, according to Laurence Steinberg, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Temple University. More than half of parents of 18- to 25-year-olds surveyed by the University of Michigan say they track their adult children using smartphone apps. Researchers say tracking to stay in touch can be healthy and supportive, but it could also cross the line. Here are some of the survey's findings: 

🔍 Most parents cited peace of mind about their child's safety as the main reason for tracking. But about 25% of parents who track their kids said the ability to monitor their location sometimes causes more anxiety. 
🔍 When parents use location tracking to micromanage their children's lives, it can be a sign that they are having difficulty transitioning from parenting a child to a young adult. 
🔍 The period of late teens to early 20s is an important time for young people to develop a sense of autonomy and independence, says Steinberg. He suggests setting up regular time to catch up rather than hovering. 
🔍 Many young adults also track their friends. If you're trying to scale back on monitoring your kids, you could ask them if they already have a peer group that's checking in on them.