Why Children Run Away From Their Homes

Children run away for many reasons.

According the American Academy of Pediatrics, most reported runaway children fall between the ages of 13 and 15. Having a child of any age run away is frightening and stressful for any parent. Understanding the reasons why children do this may help parents prevent them from running away.

Crisis

Children who run away often run from a situation at home or in his own life. A family crisis or a personal problem may be the reason. Children and teens often lack the coping skills to deal with stress. In some ways, it feels easier to flee the situation than to deal with it directly.

Depression

Depression in teens may also lead to running away. Parents forget the emotion turmoil adolescent children experience. They deal with depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness. Running away sometimes seems as a reasonable choice to dealing with such feelings. In her mind, she will no longer burden the family with her emotions and unworthiness.

Impulse

Children like to act off of impulse. Running away is a rush. Often those looking to run away for fun will do so with a friend. They desire to experience the thrill of life and new things. This sort of running away comes without plan and may lead to dangerous experimentation with drugs and sex.

References

• Runaway Child
• Healthy Children: Running Away from Home