Nearly every day you hear about violence, suicides, and fatal accidents involving children. It is frightening and can make you feel helpless.
The United States Department of Education convened an expert panel to address school violence. These recommendations were a result of that panel, and will give you some ideas of what you can do to prevent and avoid dangerous situations involving you children.
What Can You Do?
There are many things you can do. Spending time with your children, being aware of changes in their behavior, and confronting and solving problems is a good start.
And, in addition:
- Take an active role in your children's life at home, school, and in the community. Be positive. Acknowledge the good things as well as being concerned about the not-so-good.
- Make sure your children do not have inappropriate access to firearms and bomb materials. Be aware of how they spend their time and money.
- Be a good role model by settling conflicts peaceably and managing your own anger. Kids who become violent often have been treated violently at home or at school.
- Listen to your children and talk with them every day. Hold non-judgmental conversations about daily activities. Ask questions and listen to their answers.
- Set clear, enforceable limits in advance and enforce limits when necessary. Involve the kids in setting rules and limits.
- Talk about violence, gangs, drugs, and other topics of concern. Let your kids know how you feel and what your concerns are. Ask your children how they feel.
- Teach your children to identify and solve problems. Discuss problems at home and find mutually acceptable solutions.
- Discourage bullying, name calling, excessive teasing, and physical fighting. Help kids find other ways to deal with anger and frustration.
- Know who your children's friends are, where they go together, and what they do. Contact their friend's parents to make sure you both know what the kids are doing.
- Support school and community programs and rules and let your children know that you expect them to follow the rules away from home as well as at home.
There are probably more things you can think of. Be aware of what your children are doing, but don't overreact. By being involved in the lives of your kids, you will usually be able to tell when some behavior or activity is out of the ordinary and possibly dangerous. |
