How to Keep Your Teenage Kids Safe While Out

The moms of teenagers are constantly trying to find a balance between protecting their kids and letting them have fulfilled lives. Dangers are lurking behind every corner. On the other hand, you can't lock your child up inside because of that. You'll have to let them have some healthy teenage fun. But the line between healthy fun and the road to perdition is thin, complicating things a lot. To keep your teenage kids safe while out, you'll need to apply certain tactics long before the party. Here are some tips that can transform your relationship with your child and allow you to protect them more easily. 

Be a good listener 

Family is built on trust and respect, and communication is a tool you use to work on those two crucial aspects. No matter how rebellious or uninterested your teen may seem, there's a lot they have to say. Their hormones and still-developing personas are why their world is in turmoil. Most of them are having a problem of some sort they want to confess to a good listener. 

So, try to be a good listener. A parent is a perfect candidate for that position. You desperately want to help your child, and you would never betray their secrets. Make sure you tell them that often. To be someone they would like to confide in, listen patiently, and don't interrupt. Avoid all angry reactions, shocks, and accusations of any sort. And most importantly, do not underestimate or devalue their feelings. That way, you will close the communication channel between you for a long time.

Do not judge immediately, but offer gentle advice

You are fully entitled to advise your child, but be careful how you do it. Don't make it sound like a comment filled with frustration. Teens are fragile, and they notice all the nuances in your tone of voice and vocabulary. That will distract them from the actual advice, so that the whole process will have an adverse effect. Offer gentle advice you would give your boss's kid. Only then will what you are saying push through the invisible barriers the teenagers seem to build around them. 

To keep your teenage kids safe while out, have all the information you can get

As for the night out, make sure you find out everything you can about it. You must know where they are going and with whom. Ask about the people your kid is meeting, but do it as casually as possible, or you will not get any answers from them. Ask about the schedule, and if you are setting up a curfew, explain your reasons. In this case, honesty is the best approach. Tell your child exactly why you are feeling anxious about their going out. Giving them a chance can make them more understanding than you think. Never forget that trust is a two-way street; just as you expect honesty, so do they. 

Make sure they understand the risks of abusing drugs and alcohol

Just banning drinking alcohol or using drugs is not the best approach. Furthermore, teens are especially at risk when it comes to binge drinking and alcoholism because of their rebellious nature and the seductive effects this dangerous substance has. They need to decide on their own that teen drinking is very detrimental. For that, you'll need to give them all the information you can. Start with the statistics and scientific proof of the damage alcohol can cause to a young person. Show them examples of people whose life was ruined by alcohol. Unfortunately, there are so many of those whose careers went to waste due to this addiction-causing liquid. That tactic will get them to see what you are seeing: That by getting wasted, they are putting their entire future at risk.

Keep up with their social life

As teenagers are susceptible to being easily influenced, it is imperative whom they spend their time with. It's not like they will immediately tell you everything about the people they hang out with, but you should keep up with their social life. They may even be going through bullying, which they feel reluctant to share with you. Their choice of friends may significantly affect most of their actions and choices. When you see a bad influence in their group of friends, gently express your opinion. That may open their eyes and make them question what that person is doing and asking your teen to do.

Try not to put too much pressure on them

Too much pressure is very harmful even for adults, not to mention teens. We all want our kids to be the best right here and now. However, you'll need to back up a bit and let them find their own rate of progress. This is especially important when your child is going through a difficult patch. The experts on addiction recovery from archstonerecovery.com advise parents not to be too hard on their children and expect perfection, as that can cause them to falter and go back to their bad habits. They need to build back their self-confidence. That way, the next time they go out, they'll know they can resist the temptations of bad choices.

Pay attention to how they behave online

To keep your teenage kids safe while out, you'll need to pay close attention to what they are doing. Their virtual life can very easily transition to real life with horrendous consequences. Many monsters disguised as harmless boys and girls target young people and abuse their innocence. As much as it seems like an invasion of privacy, you must examine your kid's electronic devices occasionally. That will help you determine if they intend to meet with a potential predator and prevent a disaster.

A picture of a phone screen with social media apps in the focus of attention.

Final thoughts

As you can see, to keep your teenage kids safe while out, you'll need to work on your relationship daily. You can influence the choices they make when you are not around by installing the right set of values in them. Making them understand why some behaviors are dangerous is far better than simply imposing bans on them with no explanation. Simply put, be honest with them, explain why you advise them not to do something, and back up your reasons with valid arguments. That is the only way to build an individual who makes good life decisions.