Another beautiful Vermont summer is coming to a close, and kids have transitioned from the backyard to the schoolyard. It’s natural to want to trust your teens and give them a healthy sense of independence as they head back to school. But the truth is that while our teens deserve our trust, they also deserve our commitment to helping them stay on track and out of trouble.
It’s important that parents pay extra attention to teens’ behavior during such times of transition. Research shows that teens often literally can’t help but make bad decisions. During the teen years, the part of the brain responsible for making complex judgments is not as mature as the parts dedicated to emotion and motivation. So it’s only natural for emotions and impulses to win out over good judgment. At the same time, the incredible changes that take place in the brain during these years leave it very vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and drugs—meaning that the decisions your teens make now could impact them for life.
Constant monitoring of your teen can seem overwhelming. Instead, identify a few areas of concern that help you set clear boundaries. Here are a few tips you can use to help your teen.
Know your teen. Ask questions often and get to know your teen’s friends.
Limit access to dangers. For example, keep your alcohol under lock and key and monitor the quantity.
Monitor your child when you’re at work or out of town. For example, know your child’s schedule—and have her check in from each destination and when she reaches home.
Learn more helpful tips and strategies to keep your kids and community safe with ParentUp, an initiative of the Vermont Department of Health at http://parentupvt.org.
If you think your teen is drinking or using drugs, find information and help at:
-
Black River Area Community Coalition at braccvt.org or 802-228-7878
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment