TIPS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS

LET YOUR CHILDREN KNOW WHERE YOU STAND

  • Give your teen a clear message about your disapproval of underage alcohol use.
  • Give your teen a clear message about your disapproval of marijuana use.
  • Don't allow alcohol or tobacco to be available to teens in your home.
  • Be a role model. Show your child it doesn't take a drink to relax or to have fun.
  • Don't accept underage drinking as a rite of passage-discuss the bad things that can happen.

CHILDREN NEED CLEAR STANDARDS AND CONSISTENT BOUNDARIES

  • Establish a curfew and enforce it. Wait up for your children and give them a hug and a kiss.
  • Set clear rules and consequences. Be sure your children know what they are.
  • Set consequences or limits that relate to the activity and enforce them.
  • Negative consequences might be loss of TV time, computer privileges, time with friends, evening activities, shopping privileges, telephone time, cell phone possession, driving privileges.
  • Give positive consequences for following rules: thank you, praise, expanded privileges, treats.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO CHECK UP ON YOUR CHILD. IT'S YOUR RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY

  • Closely monitor your teen's academic performance.
  • Get to know your children's friends. Monitor changes in friends and in behavior.
  • When your children go out - know who, what, where and when.
  • Call other parents when your children make plans to confirm that adults will be present. You can also call to verify after-the-fact (remember "trust then verify").
  • Buy a home alcohol testing kit (www.alcopro.com) and let your children know.
  • When your teens want to go to a concert or other drug-likely event, agree that they will provide a urine sample the next morning (call TurnAround 410-819-5900 to arrange for drug tests).
  • Monitor your teens' television and Internet viewing, and restrict the music CDs they purchase.

CHILDREN NEED LOVE AND CONNECTIONS

  • Eat dinner together as often as possible.
  • Involve your children in family decision-making (about activities, rules, vacations) and in family responsibilities.
  • Remember to give positive consequences: thank you, praise, expanded privileges, treats.

THERE IS SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

  • If you suspect your teen is using drugs, don't wait. Call TurnAround -- free, confidential drug screening and assessment for adolescents 410-819-5900.
  • Join the Safe Homes program -- families with children in 8th - 12th grade who pledge to supervise all teen gatherings and to prohibit underage alcohol and tobacco use. Call 410-819-8067.
  • If you will be away from home for the evening or overnight, tell your teen's friends' parents and ask the neighbors and/or the police to watch your home. Tell your teen the house is being watched.
  • If you suspect your teen is using the Internet to research, obtain, or distribute tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs, or to contact people who may be promoting illegal activities, you can buy software to monitor and/or limit their internet use. Visit www.software4parents.com, www.contentwatch.com or www.icra.com (ICRAfilter)
  • Contact Talbot Prevention Office, Talbot Partnership, and Talbot Parent Education Office for books, videos, education classes, and someone to talk to -- all located at 410-819-8067, upstairs in the Bank of America building at 8 Goldsborough Street, Easton, info@talbotpartnership.org.