When your child was first born it likely felt like a full-time job to keep them safe from all the assorted dangers in your home. There were sharp corners and electrical outlets lurking at every turn. Unfortunately, keeping your teen safe is far more difficult. Keeping them safe at home and while they are out can be made easier in many ways with the use of technology. However, it is ultimately your personal connection with them and authentic interest in their lives that will be their best defense.
Secure Home
You probably don’t have to worry about keeping your teen safe from electrical outlets and sharp corners anymore. Instead, you worry that they will be safe home alone after school, what they are doing on their computer, and if they are using their phones appropriately.
Home security has come a long way from the days of remotely monitored sensors on doors and windows that could alert a security company of a potential break in. Now it is possible for you to personally monitor the security of your home with an app on your smartphone. Companies like Black Hat Security allow you to add the components that make the most sense for your home. In addition to door and window sensors, you can also add automated keyless bolts so you are sure the door is safely locked or wireless video monitoring so you can ensure your child is safe from wherever you happen to be.
Parental controls installed on computers, tablets, and smartphones can limit the amount of time those devices are available to children and also ensure they are not accessing sites that you have not approved. Apps on smartphones can easily track your teen’s GPS location allowing you to keep a careful watch on where they are going when they are away from home.
Drugs and Alcohol
Teens have been exposed to drugs and alcohol throughout the history of humanity. The only thing to change is the types which are in fashion at any given moment. It is virtually impossible to prevent your teen from being exposed to these temptations at some point. You can implement some of the tracking applications to ensure they are where they are supposed to be, but that doesn’t guarantee they will be engaging in appropriate activities.
To prevent your teen from experimenting with drugs or alcohol you need to make sure they truly understand the potential consequences of their actions. Most teens and even some parents are unaware of the recent advances in neuroscience that indicate some dramatic differences between teen and adult brains. A teen’s brain is still growing well into their twenties. Because of the changes going on, they are more impulsive and prone to addiction. Using drugs can have a serious impact on their brain development.
Peer Pressure and Bullying
After you have shown them the science behind why drugs and alcohol should be avoided, it is important to ensure they know they can talk to you about any peer pressure they are receiving to engage in these sorts of behaviors.
According to federal studies about peer pressure and bullying, 15 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported experiencing electronic bullying within the past year. About 49 percent of students in grades 4-12 self-reported being bullied at school within the past month and nearly 31 percent reported bullying someone else during that same time span.
We know self-reported surveys such as these tend to underestimate the prevalence of a situation due to people being concerned about the privacy of their answers. This stat indicates it is likely that far more than half of all children are experiencing some form of bullying on a regular basis. It can feel impossible to prevent such actions from happening to your teen and almost unthinkable that your teen could be bullying others.
Unfortunately, it is likely that your child has either been bullied or acted as a tormentor for another child. The most effective method to protect a child from this sort of behavior is to encourage open and honest communication about all aspects. If your child feels comfortable talking to you, or another trusted adult, they are less likely to hide their feelings of being pressured by other students. They are also less likely to take out their confusion or fear on others.
Technological advances will continue to make it easier to ensure your teen’s safety in various environments. However, the most important factor in their overall safety and well-being will always be great communication with you.
