Misbehaving and acting out are normal parts of a teen’s development. Young people often test their boundaries and easily fall prey to peer pressure. Their underdeveloped brains make them impulsive and quick to take risks.
These risk-taking behaviors are often harmless and simply a phase teenagers go through. However, a small subset of misbehaviors should alarm you as a parent. These behaviors could lead to a more significant problem or land your child in jail. How can you know when to worry about your child’s behavior?
Normal teen behaviors
Adolescence is when children learn to explore their bodies and independence. While it may annoy you that they begin to keep secrets from you, know that this is entirely normal and a part of adolescence. Other behaviors you may observe your child display include:
- Spending more time with friends than with family
- Wanting to stay past curfew
- Keeping their rooms locked
- Losing their temper more easily
- Staying past their bedtime more often
These behaviors are a normal part of testing their boundaries and widening their social circle. Their impulse regulation still needs to fully develop, so losing tempers and frequent outbursts of anger are par for the course.
The critical thing to remember is that if these behaviors do not result in long-term harm to your child, they should be okay. That said, there are undoubtedly destructive behaviors you should immediately address.
Behaviors that should alarm you
Any behavior that results in hurting others is an immediate area of concern, as are stealing, destruction of property and habitual underage drinking. You can excuse one-time vandalism or drinking as experimentation or peer pressure, but you must intervene if these incidents become repeated.
Getting intervention for your child
If your child is charged with a juvenile crime, keep a cool head and do not immediately assume the worst. Contact your support group, such as close family and friends, and ask for help. Engage the services of mental health professionals and government agencies. If you can, consider seeking legal counsel if necessary. The critical thing to remember is that you are not alone in facing this problem.