Many of you now know that I am the parent of older teenagers. Concerns and parenting issues shift as our kids get older. One of the issues I now face is teaching my children how to be safe out in the world as near-adults (who now think they are invincible and that all the natural laws of man DO NOT apply to them.) Whereas they may have been cautious and reasonable children when they were younger, the teenage years seem to bring on a whole new bucket of safety concerns—one of which is learning how to stay safe after dark.
My town has a curfew for those who are considered minors—but my kids don’t always think it applies to them. I continue to reiterate what that curfew is and what their own curfews are, but it does take some additional care with older teenagers. It becomes less about trying to control where my kids are and what they do and more about trying to teach them how to keep themselves safe. This means learning about bike safety after dark (their bikes have to have lights, they have to wear helmets, they need to learn how to see and be seen), and learning how to stay on lighted streets, with groups of people, and what parts of town are safe or not for after dark activity.
I think kids can learn a lot from parents about after-dark safety just by being out and about. Teaching your child about how to move safely after dark can start years before they are actually allowed out on their own for group activities, dates, etc. You can teach your child about safety by practicing good safety habits yourself, as well as spending time out together after dark prior to turning them lose in the teenage years. Make sure you have a plan for where kids can call and who the “back-ups” are (a grandparent or family friend) in case they get into trouble. Teenagers don’t always make the best of decisions (even responsible ones) and are especially prone to kooky choices during duress. It might take some practice, but parents will need to play a key role in helping kids learn how to stay as safe as possible after dark.
See Also: What You Should NOT Have a Babysitter Do
Stranger Awareness–Is it Time for a Refresher Course?
Teaching Your Child About Strangers