9 Tips for Keeping Your Teens Safe This Summer

As much as you may like to, you can’t keep an eye on your teenagers 24/7. You might feel particularly frustrated over the summer if they don’t have school to occupy their time. How can you let them roam while preserving your sanity? 

While no one can tell you not to worry, the right techniques can minimize the chances of your teen getting into trouble. Follow the nine tips below to empower them to make positive choices and breathe more freely as they become independent adults. 

1. Open the Communication Lines 

If your teenager went to a party where other people’s behavior made them feel uncomfortable, what would they do? You want them to call you, but if they fear punishment, they may hesitate to do so. 

Let your teen know they can contact you anytime — even if they’re drunk or high — if they or their friends need help. Make it clear that you won’t ask questions or apply harsh punishments. You can talk with them about their choices later, but your primary objective is removing them from a potentially hazardous situation. 

2. Talk About Substance Use 

In 2019 alone, over 5 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Vaping isn’t harmless — some have died from complications of lung disease arising from their use. Discuss the dangers of using smokeless tobacco and encourage positive behaviors like sports that aren’t compatible with nicotine use. 

Drugs and alcohol pose dangers, too, even if your child doesn’t indulge personally. In 2017, 16.5% of high school students admitted to riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Vehicular accidents remain the leading cause of death among teenagers, so again — reinforce that they can call you for a ride anytime, no questions asked. 

3. Review Safety Rules 

Accidents can happen during innocent activities, too. Your child might decide to take a dip at a secluded beach, and the undertow can pull them out to sea. Review the rules of safety for your area. Make sure they know to wear a life jacket when going boating on a local lake or avoid setting campfires in regions with increased wildfire risk. 

4. Know Their Friends 

Knowing your child’s friends gives you peace of mind because it opens the door for you to talk to their parents. You can form friendships and breathe more comfortably when your child attends a slumber party if you know a responsible adult is there to supervise. You can also ask questions such as whether they keep weapons in the home. 

5. Invest in Driving Lessons 

Fully 75% of teen vehicle accidents arise from critical errors such as distractions and driving too fast for conditions. Driving lessons can cost a pretty penny, but compared to your teen’s life, they are a bargain. If your young one is old enough to get their license, make the investment to teach them the skills they need to stay safe on the road. 

6. Keep Tabs on Internet Use 

The internet can help your teen connect with others worldwide — but those they meet don’t always have their best interests at heart. Predators lurk everywhere, and they often create fake social media profiles and use gaming chat channels to lure their prey. 

While you don’t want to imagine the worst, estimates suggest that between 20 million and 40 million people live in modern-day slavery due to trafficking. Monitor what your kids do on the internet by limiting device use to living areas. 

7. Practice Social Distancing 

Some people may behave as if the COVID-19 pandemic is history. However, the threat remains. Talk to your teenagers about social distancing and encourage them to wear masks when going out in public. Remind them that they can become infected without knowing it and potentially endanger another whom they don’t know has an underlying condition. 

8. Give Them Therapy Resources

You might be focused on adult problems like paying your bills, but the recent pandemic wasn’t a breeze for teenagers, either. Many of them missed once-in-a-lifetime events like prom and graduation, and they might experience an increase in mental illness symptoms from the stress. 

As much as you can, connect them with resources to help them cope. If you don’t have health insurance coverage, you can guide them toward self-help groups and workbooks that can guide them through challenging emotions. 

9. Teach Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an ideal technique for adults and teens alike. It helps you calm racing thoughts, stop panicking and return your focus to the present moment, not fears of what might happen. You can find free meditation videos on YouTube if you haven’t practiced before. Why not tune in together one night and encourage your teenager to keep up the methods you learn independently? 

Keep Your Teens Safe This Summer With These 9 Tips

You can’t keep an eye on your teenagers forever. As they get older, they naturally demand more independence. Help keep them safe by using these nine tips to educate and guide.