Risky behaviour your teen might engage in

Teens think they know it all and with peer pressure, they may want to engage in risky behaviour just to impress friends. While your teen may not engage in all of the risky behaviours below, they are likely to try a few. Here are some tips on how you can keep an eye out for any signs of dangerous behaviour:

Speeding

Whether they are trying to impress their friends, or are excited about the prospect of being in control of a car without adult supervision, one of the most common risks that teens take is speeding. There are numerous electronic devices that you can have fitted to your vehicle to monitor your teens’ driving. They are also GPS-enabled, so you can find out where your teen is in an emergency.

Experimenting with drugs

Teenagers are well aware of the risks of experimentation with illicit drugs. Most are raised with the ‘just say no’ attitude, and there are entire school programmes dedicated to educating teens on the dangers of drugs. That doesn’t change the fact that curiosity, the desire to rebel and a need to assert an adult level of independence drives many kids to try these substances. Signs that your child might be experimenting with drugs include: change in behaviour (moody, angry, irritable), rapid weight loss, shaking hands, skin discolouration, dark circles under eyes, absence from school, deteriorating school results.

Binge drinking

Alcohol poisoning and bad decisions due to lowered inhibitions are both very real dangers of binge drinking. This is why it is important to discuss the matter with your teen. Find out if any of the parties they attend have alcohol (even if they’re underage), and encourage them to call you if they ever find themselves in trouble. If they are being bullied into drinking by their peers, or if they have made bad decisions and have joined in on the drinking, they need to know that you will be available to rescue them from the situation.

Truancy

Some teens skip school to avoid bullies or a classroom setting they are struggling in, while others skip simply because they can. From asserting independence to practicing avoidance, skipping school for any reason is still a common situation amongst teens. If you find out that your teen has been skipping classes, or even leaving school early, try to chat to them and find out the reason for their behaviour. You might have to send them for counselling if they are struggling with bullies at school, or for extra classes if they are struggling with a school subject.

Vandalism

Even when it’s meant to be a harmless prank, the destruction of property is something parents need to take seriously. You can be assured that law enforcement won’t see this risky behaviour as a joke.

Trespassing

From the thrill of hanging out in a forbidden place, to the more practical application of simply finding a place to hang out away from the prying eyes of adults, trespassing is another common risk that teens take. It’s also a crime, which is why parents shouldn’t turn a blind eye to such habits if they’re discovered.

Having unprotected sex

Few parents look forward to having a talk about sex with their kids, but some of a teens’ riskiest sexual behaviour stems from a lack of understanding and information. Unprotected sex can lead to teen pregnancy and the contracting of sexually-transmitted diseases, which is why parents must have a frank and honest discussion about sex. They need to talk about the importance of using protection, and abstaining for as long as possible.  

Crash dieting

Crash dieting and even eating disorders are a common risk that teens take, in a bid to obtain their skewed ideas of physical beauty. Parents should discuss these issues with their teens, even if no signs of eating disorders or problematic relationships with food are present. If you think that your teen may be at risk for an eating disorder, seek help as quickly as possible. Studies show that the earlier eating disorders are detected, the higher the rate of recovery.