It is okay to be worried about your children, especially when they are not in your care and out on their own. There are a number of dangers facing kids today, but some parents are beginning to worry too much about headline dangers like school shootings and terrorism – which are relatively unlikely to happen even as they seem to happen more often – while overlooking the dangers facing children and teenagers which are far more likely to happen.
The common dangers facing our youth are:
Bullying
Bullying is an issue that many have dealt with at some point, but some children are more susceptible to it than others. This has become a little harder to deal with due to the internet. Bullies can now bother your child on the internet. You need to make sure that you monitor your children’s online activity, and you should also discuss how to effectively deal with hurtful individuals.
Car Accidents
It may not be something parents want to hear, but car accidents are definitely what parents need to worry about. Teens get in these types of accidents all the time and for all sorts of reasons like using a smartphone while driving alone or with friends. It is important to teach your children about safe driving. As an experienced car accident attorney, claims adjuster or traffic cop can attest, distracted driving is all too often the cause of catastrophic car crashes. Take steps to prevent your teen from using their devices while driving with tools like an app which disables texting when it detects it’s in a moving vehicle.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Peer pressure amongst many other problems can lead a child to abuse drugs like alcohol or other illegal substances. This is something parents should not overlook, but it is important to pay attention to alternative drugs kids may also use. You need to be aware that many kids are now abusing regular prescription drugs. This could be happening in your own home, so make sure you keep an eye on your medicine cabinet just in case. No one is saying you should mistrust your children but rather pay attention.
Obesity
Another issue that is affecting more and more children today is obesity. This is not surprising with the amount of junk food available today, but it is something that parents cannot overlook. Obesity is a real danger and a common one that could lead to a diminished quality of life and cause several health issues. As you know, obesity has been linked to problems like diabetes, heart disease, and even depression. You do not want your children to deal with this issue. Make sure you feed them healthy foods and keep them away from junk food for their own safety.
Materialism
America and other western nations are built on consumerism, but it needs to be controlled. The problem is that some children simply do not have the willpower to control themselves, especially because of the advertisements and propaganda targeting them every day. You need to make sure your children do not fall victim to materialism because it can become an addiction that could be hard to break. Try to teach them the true value of life rather than just allowing them to make superfluous purchases.
As you can see, there are a number of dangers that parents need to worry about. You need to attempt to help your children navigate this unsafe world as safely as possible. Of course, there is no way you are going to be able to protect them from everything, but you can certainly reduce the risks they are exposed to.
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Photo Credit: Ant Rozetsky Kevin Schmid James Baldwin
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