Parenting Tips

Spring break is coming up, and you're looking forward to spending some quality time with the kids. Maybe you've even planned a trip or some activities for the week. And then your teen comes to you and asks if she can take a trip with her friends. What do you do?

This is a tough question for many parents. We've all heard the horror stories of teens and young adults who have been victims of crime during spring break. Your first instinct may be to panic and say no, but wait. It's important to hear your teen out before making a decision.

Once your teen has told you what it is she wants to do, ask her some questions. Here are a few that it's good to know the answers to, if she hasn't already told you:

* Will there be a responsible adult chaperone present?
* What is the destination, and where would she be staying?
* Who else is going, and are these the kinds of people she would be allowed to hang out with at home?
* Who is in charge of setting up the travel, activities, and accommodations?

Has Your Teen Earned Your Trust?

When considering letting your teen go on a spring break trip without you, it is important to examine any trust issues. If you have had problems with your teen lying to you on a regular basis, it is probably not a good idea to allow her to go. If you're not sure that she is telling you the truth about the trip, it's possible that she could end up in danger.

If, on the other hand, your teen has always been honest with you, it is best to give her request serious consideration. If she has answered all of your questions to your satisfaction, that is good. But it's also a good idea to do some investigating of your own.

What Kind of Research Should I Do?

First, see what you can find out about the proposed destination. Is it frequented by spring breakers? What is the crime rate? Have there been reports of kidnappings or other crimes against kids there on spring break?

If the destination looks okay, check out the people behind the trip. If it is planned by an organization, do some research to find out if they are on the up and up. Some unscrupulous organizations take advantage of young people who are looking to have some spring break fun.

If everything checks out, consider letting your teen go on the trip. She is at a stage where developing independence is very important, and such a trip could be good for her. Just be sure that she understands that the rules of conduct that would apply at home also apply while she is away, and that she knows everything she needs to know to stay safe.

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