How Can I Be Aware If My Kids Are At Risk or In Danger?
If you feel something bad is going on with your kids, you’re probably right. It’s critical to understand the situation to help you make wise decisions. That takes time and calls for empathy and wisdom, and you never want to say, “We didn’t know their situation was that serious.”
How can you be more aware if your kids are approaching a crisis?
Do more to learn what’s going on with them
You need more information to protect your kids from harm. That means spending more time, being more vigilant, asking more questions, listening more, and paying more attention to their habits, friends, and use of time and money. The “Do You Know?” article below will help.
Document a “Proactive Wellness Assessment”
If you have a teen at risk, capture in writing what you observe that gives you concern. Go back a year to spot changes and focus on the direction they are moving. Update the assessment often and use it to inform people who can help your family.
Make the commitment to be there for them
It will require an investment in your kids’ well-being to understand what’s really going on with them so you can help most effectively. To do that, you must be there for them: be available, be willing, be ready, be proactive, be thoughtful, be empathetic, and be compassionate.
Here are some other useful resources to help you be aware of a crisis:
- Do You Know What is REALLY Going on with Your Kids?
- How Parents Can Stay More Aware
- What Teenagers Don’t Know Can Hurt Them
- Why Teenagers Take Drugs
Next Right Steps: Write down everything you’ve noticed about your kids that gives you reason to think they could be approaching a crisis.
