Safety 101: Teens and Twenty Somethings Love of Risk Taking

As children reach their teens or twenties, they may begin to think of themselves as indestructible and are prone to engage in risky behaviors that they would not even consider doing at other stages in their life.  You need to look no further than youtube to know what I am saying is true.  It is becoming more common for children in this age group to post videos of themselves engaging in risky behaviors like planking, choking, unprotected sex, or binge drinking.  Hard to fight against fifteen minutes of fame or 100,000 hits for their posted video.  Additional reasons for children in this age range may be their lack of impulse control due to hormone fluxuations or the important role peer pressure plays in their life. 

Understanding where these behaviors are coming from is a start, but you are going to need to do more to keep your child save.  Talk to them about what could happen to them if they participate in these behaviors, and show them pictures of the misfortune of others who have engaged in these behaviors.  Research suggests that just talking to them may not be enough because they listen more to their friends then their parents.  You may need to monitor their behavior closely and set down consequences for them if they are caught engaging in these dangerous behaviors.  Following through with the consequence will be key to keeping them safe.

If you get them to think twice before doing something crazy, you just may save their life.

Teachable Moment Cyber Style

Use the news story about the two Gainesville High School Students who were expelled from school for posting a youtube video that was offensive as a teachable moment for your children.  Are your children feeling like these girls once did that they can do anything that they want on the internet because they are anonymous or wouldn't get in trouble?  Make sure your child understands that there are consequences to all there actions, even those in cyberland.  Talk to them about the consequences that these two girls and their families are living with.  Include the death threats that the families are receiving.