Give a vision for adulthood.

Rite of Passage: Ages 16-17

<span style="color:var(--primary-color-bg)">What Is</span>

What Is

The Right of Passage Step?

Around the ages of 16 to 17 is an ideal time to clearly give your child a vision for their future as an emerging adult, which is why we’ve created the Right of Passage step on the Faith Path. Challenging your teen to leave behind the world of childhood, while inviting them into the ranks of emerging adulthood, is a crucial part of helping them anticipate and prepare to accept God’s plan for the future.

A Rite of Passage event signifies a transition from one stage to another and serves as an opportunity to set a new tone for your changing relationship with your teen, which is moving from primarily teacher to mostly coach, as he or she accepts the new freedoms and responsibilities that accompany young adulthood. Let them know that you will be there to help them work through challenges and navigate landmines as they take ownership for choices and a future walk with God. But beyond this event, always create intentional one-on-one times to connect and keep the lines of communication open over the coming months and years.

Put It Into Practice

It is less important how you plan your child’s Rite of Passage, and more important that you plan it. Some families host a simple dinner with family and close friends, while others do something more elaborate like a road-trip adventure with various stops. Decide and plan what works best for your teen and your situation. Here are three simple steps to get you started:

1. Create a plan. A small investment of thought and effort will mean a great deal to your son or daughter. You can use the Next Steps below or read one of the recommended resources for ideas. Some common elements of a Rite of Passage ceremony include:

  • Give a Blessing: It is very important that parents use this milestone to give a blessing, usually in the form of a letter affirming the teen’s potential and expressing gratitude for his or her life.
  • Give a Vision for the Future: Take time to provide direction for the future. Cast vision and direct your child in seeking the Lord as they enter a season of significant decisions that will impact the future.
  • Give a Gift: Consider purchasing or making something to give your teen during this time. It doesn’t need to be extravagant. It is more important that it serves as a tangible keepsake of the event that your child can hold on to for years to come. Ideas include a piece of jewelry, a book of letters/blessings, or even a sword.

2. Invite people who have made an impact in your teen’s life and/or whom they respect. Give each person a specific topic on which he or she will speak or write a letter. Some topics may include work, marriage, integrity, faith, purity, family, etc.

3. Make it easy for others to participate by providing them with recommended wording for their talk or letter in order to help them avoid becoming nervous or attending ill-prepared.

Get Started

Next Steps

Even a simple rite of passage experience can have a powerful impact in your teen’s life. Ask yourself the following questions to plan the best approach for your son or daughter:

Evaluate
Is our relationship strong enough for the experience to feel authentic vs. forced?
Does my child have other adults in his/her life who have had enough influence to participate in such an experience?
Does my teen show signs he/she is willing to move toward adult responsibilities and attitudes?
If you answer no to any of these questions it might be better to plan a special dinner alone together to begin meaningful dialog rather than attempt the full rite of passage experience.

When
What day is best to make this event special? On a birthday? In conjunction with a holiday? As a special day of its own?
What date would work best for those who might need to travel to participate?

Who
What relatives should participate? (Grandparent, respected aunt or uncle, older brother or sister, etc.)
Is my child close to a pastor, youth minister, teacher, or coach that he/she respects?
If you are not planning the event as a surprise, invite your teen to suggest who he/she would like to be included.

How
Would my child prefer a formal event or casual experience?
What would be a good setting for the event? (Family home, grandparent’s home, a favorite restaurant, the church, park, etc.)
What kind of fun activity would our child enjoy doing with the older men or women before the formal portion of the event? (For example, a teen boy might enjoy going to shooting range or golfing while a girl might prefer shopping or tennis.)

Additional Resources

Rite of Passage Breakout from the Uncommon Parenting Conference 2023
Rite of Passage by Jim McBride
Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis
Rite of Passage Parenting by Walker Moore
King Me by Steve Farrar
The Blessing by John Trent, Gary Smalley, and Kari Trent Stageberg