Parents can’t always be the good guys and most of the time its in your child’s best interest to set some basic house rules.  Discuss rules with your entire family and make sure these rules are consistently enforced. We have provided some examples of rules for your kids to help protect them from negative influences.

1. Always ask who, what, where, when and how when your teen goes out. (Who will they be with, What will they be doing, Where will they be, When will they get back, and How can you reach them).

2. Set an age for dating and make sure you are clear that there should be no more the 2 years age difference. This is also a great time to talk about what is appropriate boyfriend/girlfriend behavior at your teen’s age. 

3. Tell your teen that they can not entertain their boyfriend/girlfriend in personal spaces (like bedrooms), or when an adult is not at home. The first place teens have sex is often at home in an unsupervised area of the house.

4. Make it clear what your teen is allowed to watch, listen, and read on the television, radio, or computer. Talk to them about the messages these forms of media can send about sex and dating.