Keeping Kids Safe
Help make summer safe for your child
Summer vacation is a great time for students but a time of concern for parents because all the extra free time means more opportunity to get into trouble.
With the current social climate, keeping young people safe is a major topic of conversation. Dr. Nick DeFilippis, professor of Clinical Psychology at Argosy University in Atlanta suggests parents can help keep their children safe this summer by taking control over their children's lives. He recommends setting strict rules and parameters such as a curfew and insisting that youth check in with home at designated times.
"Parents need to understand that young people cannot always make many decisions for themselves and need guidance," DeFilippis says. "Young people are not always mature enough to handle the executive function of planning, decision making and realize the consequences of their behaviour and the impact on their lives."
Studies indicate that brain development or maturity for males does not fully occur until their late 20s and in females between 18 to 20 years old. According to DeFilippis, while parents may not want to be overbearing or intimidating, they must evaluate the maturity level of their children and determine:
* If the child has difficulty staying on task or is easily distracted
* If the child responds properly to adult authority figures
* If the child is easily frustrated and will act out
* If the child needs more supervision and structure
If the above signs are present, these indicate that the child is likely somewhat immature and requires even more supervision by parents or a responsible adult.
DeFilippis recommends parents get to know their child's friends and associates, or anyone outside of the home who influences their behaviour. If a child has a friend that gets into trouble often, parents should discourage the friendship.
Dr. Mirjam Quinn, assistant professor of Clinical Psychology, agrees with DeFilippis on parents getting to know their child's friends as well as their friends' caregivers and also encourages structured, supervised activities and outings. "Giving young people fun things to do is a great preventive measure against children becoming involved in inappropriate activities."
Another way to promote youth safety is by being open to discussing with your child who their friends are and what happens when they are together as well as to model the values you would like your child to adopt. "Parents should understand that the best way to demonstrate healthy relationships and friendships is to lead by example. Youth observe who is in their home environment and around their parents," Quinn explains.
Encouraging youth to travel in groups especially when they are in at-risk neighbourhoods is another way to promote safety. "Travelling in groups or with adults or older, responsible youth helps discourage bullying situations and gang intimidation of a youth on the street alone," Quinn says.
Lastly, Quinn points out the importance of community involvement and responsibility regarding youth safety. Local businesses can provide job opportunities for youth while on summer break. Communities can form block clubs and hold regular meetings to share information and address issues as a neighbourhood.
"Community residents must come together and be vocal when necessary, be willing to call the police when there is suspicious activity or a shooting and participate in youth mentoring or violence prevention programs," she says.
Keeping youth safe this summer is a serious task that involves cooperation from the youth, strong parental involvement by setting curfews, providing supervised activities and being willing to talk and listen to their children; and lastly, engaging in collective community involvement and support. (ARA)
