Keeping Your Kids from Running with the Wrong Crowd

Every parent worries about their child getting involved with the wrong crowd. We worry about drugs, sex, and gangs. We wonder what we can do to keep our children away from the bad influences and keep them on the right track. Here are a few things that may make the difference.

Talking to our children is probably the absolute most important thing parents can do. Telling our kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and helping them learn how to say "no" when presented with the opportunity to try them is key. Explain to your child how having sex at a young age can effect their life. Tell your child about the dangers of being in gangs. Most importantly, listen to your child and answer their questions the best you can. Talking to your child and listening to them can help keep them away from the wrong crowd.

Keeping your child involved in extra-curricular activities can also help keep them away from the wrong crowds. If your child has is part of a team, chances are they will have a better self-esteem than if not. Team activities also give kids a place where they feel as if they belong. Whether the team is for sports, academics, music, or drama, it gives you child something positive to do with his or her time, therefore; less time to just hang out. Most group activities have an academic standard to which team members must meet. The team members must maintain a certain grade point average to remain on the team. This also helps keep kids out of trouble because they know that they must do well in class to participate on the team.

Knowing where your child is, and who your child is with can also help keep him or her away from the wrong crowd. If your child knows that you could check up on him or her at any time, he or she is less likely to do something that you disapprove of. Having your child check in with you at specific times also helps.

Let your child know that even if they do make a mistake, it is okay to call you for help. If your child pulls a fast one on you and goes off to a party rather than to the mall like you were told, and gets into an uncomfortable situation, he or she will be more likely to call you for help getting out of the situation if they know that you will help. Tell your child that you may be disappointed because of the initial lie, but you will be there to help. NEVER leave your child in a situation where they may be in danger just because you are upset with them. Help your child get away and deal with the breach of trust later. The safety of your child is most important, and chances are your child has already learned a valuable lesson on his or her own.

Give your child responsibilities and limitations at home. If you help your child learn to be more responsible at home, they will naturally become more responsible when they are away from you. If your child has reasonable limitations and rules at home, that behavior will also become natural away from home.

Know your child's friends. You will probably not know all of them, but the more of your child's friends you do know and the more you get to know them, the safer you can keep your child. You may not be able to choose your child's friends for him or her, but you can control how much time your child spends with those friends outside of school. If a friend seems to be a bad influence, limit the amount of time your child spends with that friend. Insist on adult supervision whenever your child is with that friend away from home.

We cannot make all of our child's choices. Some choices are only theirs to make. As parents, we can only guide them to making the right decision, and protect them by setting rules. Talking to kids and letting them know you will listen, keeping kids involved in extra-curricular activities, being there for your kids, setting limitations at home as well as giving them responsibilities at home, and knowing your kid's friends are all ways that parents can help keep kids from getting involved with the wrong crowd.