How to Keep Teenagers From Joining Gangs
Gangs are tough, fearsome and cool-- or so your teen may think. You know the flipside of gang life, which often leads to drugs, jails and death. You cannot always isolate teenagers from contact with gangs, but you can give them the scoop on what it means to be a part of one. You can keep teenagers from joining gangs with some strategic steps.
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Instructions
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Communicate. Your main mission with a teenager is let him know you are always available for him, no matter what he wants to talk about. Perhaps he has had contact with gangs already. Ask about it. Discuss it. Do not judge, but be open to anything your teen needs to get off his chest.
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Provide a loving environment. One of the reasons teens join gangs is to fit in somewhere. Perhaps nobody cares what he does at home or he has a hard time fitting in with other groups at school or around the neighborhood. Let him know the home life is where his "family" is, not some gang where people kill each other.
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Get your kid involved in activities. Keep your kid so busy he won't have time for gangs. Being active in sports, arts, school clubs, volunteering with local groups, and other activities will let him fit in in a healthy and productive environment.
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Know his friends. Yes, you'll feel like a total control freak, but it needs to be done. Meet all your kid's friends in person and, if possible, meet the friend's parents. Keep phone numbers handy so you can call and check up if necessary.
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Keep tabs on his whereabouts. Use those phone numbers. If your teen says he's "hanging out with the guys," get specifics. Where? With whom? What will you be doing? Again, check up on him to make sure he's where he says he is. Do not make it easy for him to sneak off into unsavory activities with shady characters.
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Use scare tactics and tough love. Clip out news stories about the latest gang-related shooting. Research some statistics and sad facts about kids who join gangs. Let your teen know joining a gang is not acceptable and comes with punishment. Until he's 18 and a legal adult, you get the say-so on a lot of his actions. Follow through with any punishments, if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for warning signs, like a drastic change in attitude or dress, secrecy, gang colors or new tattoos that could be gang-related symbols, like a teardrop tattoo by his eye.
If you suspect your teen has joined a gang, talk to him immediately. If he won't open up to you, get some intervention with an adult he trusts or a professional counselor.
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- Photo Credit Photo by Ryn Gargulinski
