The teenage years are commonly a time of rebellion and experimentation for adolescents. Arguments may become more frequent, they may change their appearance, they may experiment with drugs and alcohol, and they may spend less time at home. These are common behaviors for a teenager, but in some cases they are far more extreme.
But what do you do when a teen becomes out of control, and how do you know when that is? If you notice any extreme changes in the teen’s life, this is a warning sign that something may be wrong: for example, new friends or no friends, becoming violent or harmful to other people or things, change in school performance, change in behavior and/or dramatic mood swings. Parents usually know their teenagers the best, so they are best equipped to notice these differences.
But what do you do when you see these changes? First you should observe their behavior and think about why they might be doing these things: explore the options. The next step is realizing that a change needs to be made (maybe with the parent as well) and to reconfigure the established parenting style.
HELPFUL HINTS:
• Reward positive and responsible behaviors and decisions.
• Create clear rules and enforce them regularly. This also means establishing reasonable consequences if the rules are not followed.
• Try to communicate with the teen about what is going on in their life and stay open-minded.
• Stand by your decision.
Boot camps, wilderness treatment facilities, boarding schools, and the like should all be last resort options. If making changes in the home does not seem to work, try going to see a professional. Sometimes all teenagers need is a little help and they will be able to get back on track.
SOURCES:
Troubled Teen 101 http://www.troubledteen101.com/articles11.html
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