How to Prevent Gang Involvement
While there is no universal definition of what a gang is and what constitutes gang-related behavior, gang members tend to share certain characteristics in common. These characteristics include participation in illegal activities, the formation of collective identities and problems at school. Parental involvement and awareness is a crucial deterrent that can prevent gang participation. Keeping your teen involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work as well as establishing relationships with his or her teachers, friends and their parents helps too.
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Instructions
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Talk with your teenager. Let him or her know what your expectations are and what behavior is or is not permitted in your household. Building a relationship based on trust, respect and understanding is key. Given that teens who lack strong relationships with their families are more likely to become involved in gang activity, simply talking to your child is one of the best ways to prevent gang involvement.
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Help your teenager find extracurricular activities to participate in. Whether it is a sport, club or extra class, keeping your teenager busy will help prevent gang involvement. Encourage your teen to volunteer. When your teen is helping others and making a difference in the community, he or she will be less likely to succumb to peer pressure or hang out with teens who are involved in illegal activities. Volunteer opportunities exist at local animal shelters, food shelters, schools and churches. If your teen is interested in mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a worthwhile mentoring program which will allow him or her to help a younger child succeed.
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Pay attention to who your teen interacts with. It's important to know who his or her friends are. Talk to your teen's friends any time you get a chance. Also make an effort to get to know the parents of these friends.
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Know the warning signs of gang involvement. These include sudden changes in academic performance for the worse, changes in communication habits, problems with friends or unusual behavior. Don't be afraid to address any of these issues with your child.
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Establish a program at your teen's school. Work with teachers, other parents and the local police department to host an event detailing the negative affects of gang involvement. If possible, find a guest speaker who used to be a gang participant and have him or her detail the experience.
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