Monitoring teens is an art form. Too much scrutiny and teens will rebel or fail to learn the skills they need to function on their own. Too little monitoring can result in behaviors that spell trouble. What to do? Here are some strategies to consider for keeping track of teens. o Know where they are, especially evenings and weekends. o Let teens know that using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs is illegal and unacceptable, and that it would upset you. o Monitor which television programs they watch. o Set guidelines about the music teens listen to. o Know how they are doing in school. Don’t miss parent-teacher meetings. o Monitor Internet use. Keep computers in “public” rooms of the house. o Try to eat together on a regular basis. o Enforce personal curfews, and know the curfew laws in your community. o Check in with teens when they come home from school. o Have family routines. Respect your teenager o Explain why you need to know about their activities. o Acknowledge their need for independence. o Recognize that as teens mature, our expectations should change accordingly. o Nurture their self-sufficiency. Build trust by giving more freedom gradually. When all else fails Sometimes the best plans don’t work and teens find themselves in over their heads. Have a family code word like “blue fish.” When a teen calls to say, “there are a lot of blue fish here,” it means something is wrong. Go get them, no questions asked. For more information on strategies for keeping teens safe contact Meeker County Public Health at (320) 693-5370, or go to Shoulder to Shoulder Raising Teens Together Web site: www.shouldertoshoulderminnesota.
