Parenting Troubled Teens

Parents of troubled teens sometimes find their self at a loss wondering what they can do to help them. There are a lot of different warning signs that should be watched for in at-risk youth. Usually if parents recognize the signs they can catch the bad behavior before it becomes a problem. Some warning signs are drug use, self-injury, teen pregnancy and depression.

When to Start Looking for Signs

Even though some parents feel preadolescent kids are too young to begin exhibiting warning signs of troubled teens, this is the perfect time to begin looking for signs. These signs can manifest in some rather inconspicuous ways such as depression and failing school, teen pregnancy, drug use and self-injury. Their environment can be a big influence as well. If they live in an area that is plagued with drug use, violence and bad behavior, they will most likely manifest some of these same warning signs that they too are developing bad behavior. You should consider their peers and what type of influence they have on your child.

The Peer Factor of Troubled Teens

Most at-risk youth have trouble fitting in with their peers. They will do almost anything to fit into a certain group of kids that they think are “kool”. You may start seeing warning signs such as self-injury, drug use, failing school and even depression. Many troubled teens have a problem with wanting to fit in with their friends and others around them. Behavior to look for when it comes to a-risk youth includes losing weight drastically, failing school, bruises or sores that are unexplained, self-injury, depression and major mood swings.

Become Friends with Your Teens Friend’s Parents

Teen pregnancy is a major problem facing at-risk youth today, as well as drug use and physical abuse, even bullying. It is not at all beyond your rights as a parent to become friends with parents of your children’s friends. This not only gives you a life line for discussing at-risk youth but could prove to be an asset especially if your friend is close with their teen. It can give you insight to some of the problems.

Build Trust in your Teen

Considering teens are very prone to depression and peers’ behavior, gaining their trust is essential if you want your teen to talk to you. There is no wrong way of gaining trust, but in order to get trust you must give trust as well. This does not mean turn a blind eye to your teen’s peers or behaviors just see how they do with trust before you come down on them. There are some troubled teens that simply want to be like their peers and therefore may exhibit some self-injury problems to fit in. They may begin cutting or burning themselves as part of the self-injury problem.

In our world today many teens are troubled and it is up to us as parents and caretakers of these children to help and support them in any way possible. A troubled teen isn’t a lost teen just one that needs a little help.