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You’ve heard of baby-proofing your house in preparation for welcoming a newborn. Have you ever considered teen-proofing your home for the summer?
Talk it out
Creating a safe and healthy environment for your teen to flourish should start with consulting … your teen, said Nikki Mihalopoulos, M.D., an adolescent medicine specialist at University of Utah Health Care.
“It’s one thing for parents to say, ‘We’re locking up the alcohol and prescription medications, and you better be home at 9 on the dot,’” Mihalopoulos said. “Most teens are going to do a whole lot better if they are involved in establishing summer rules.”
Mihalopoulos recommends starting a conversation that opens lines of communication, which might go something like this:
“Let’s talk about the summer and what it’s going to look like, what you’re going to be doing, and who you’re going to be spending time with. … What do you think the rules should be about screen time, tobacco, alcohol, sex, etc.? … Here is what I, as a parent, think is appropriate. Let’s figure out what is going to be safest for you, as my kid.”
Believe it or not, kids like when their parents set rules, Mihalopoulos said, noting that they thrive when they have structure and clear expectations.
Experiment time?
Temptations abound in the summer. It probably doesn’t surprise you that teens are more likely to experiment with alcohol in June and July than any other time of year. In those two months, an average of 11,000 adolescents (ages 12-17) try alcohol for the first time every day, compared with 5,000-8,000 per day during the rest of the year, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.
“It’s important to keep all alcohol locked up, including alcoholic beverages kept in the fridge,” Mihalopoulos said. “It’s also vital to keep prescription drugs locked up. Make it clear that it’s never OK to take a medication that isn’t prescribed to you.”
And it’s not just prescription pain pills that entice teens to the medicine cabinet. Young people will experiment with any pills they find, including cough and cold medicine, so keep an eye on potential harms that are easily accessible, Mihalopoulos said.
Keeping busy
Few parents relish the idea of their teen languishing in front of a TV all summer, but booking your teen’s schedule solid isn’t the way to go either, Mihalopoulos said. It’s summer vacation, after all, and is intended to be a time for overscheduled teens to enjoy a little R&R. That doesn’t mean kids are off the hook from chores, though.
In fact, daily chores teach teens responsibility and ownership and should be part of each kid’s schedule, Mihalopoulos said.
While teens are too old for most summer camps, there are a few that are geared toward this age group. In addition, older kids can often work as counselors at summer programs for younger kids. Mihalopoulos recommends encouraging older teens to find some sort of summer job, whether it’s mowing lawns, babysitting or scooping Tiger’s Blood at the local snow cone hut.
You’ve got a friend in me — and my mom
Becoming acquainted with your teen’s friends and their parents can go a long way toward removing the mystery swirling around your kid’s summertime social life.
“Encourage your child’s friends to come to your home so you can get to know them,” Mihalopoulos said. “Don’t be afraid to make sure friends understand your house rules, and make sure to connect with other parents about house rules and unsupervised time spent in homes.”
Healthy eating
It’s a morning in July. One child is headed to a pool party, another is off to science camp, and a third is en route to a part-time job shagging balls at the golf course. Families can get scattered in the summer.
Why not meet up for one meal a day? It keeps the family connected and is far healthier than endless snacking, Mihalopoulos said.
Speaking of snacking, teens eat what’s convenient, so stock your pantry and fridge with fresh and wholesome foods like fruit, yogurt, nuts and sugar-free beverages. That way you can ensure that the next late-night snack raid is a healthful one.
Outside the teen-proofed home
So, you’ve hidden those leftover pills from last year’s surgery. You’ve locked up your wine cabinet. You’ve discussed house rules with your teen’s friends and even had their parents over for dinner. Your fridge is brimming with healthy options. You’ve had the “What would you do if someone approached you with drugs?” talk. You can’t go wrong, right?
Unfortunately, some of the biggest risks to teen safety occur outside the home, and teen-related tragic accidents are common in the summer.
“Teens do a lot of driving, so talk with them about distracted driving, texting while driving, drinking and driving, wearing a seatbelt, and about what to do if a driver they’re riding with is being unsafe,” Mihalopoulos said. “The most important thing is to just stay aware of what your teen is doing. For example, if she’s going boating, talk with her about water safety and about not swimming alone. Teens are known for playing it cool, but they really like seeing how much you care.”
