Does parental monitoring make a difference? Yes. Research shows that
teens whose parents use effective monitoring practices are less likely
to make poor decisions, such as having sex at an early age, smoking
cigarettes, drinking alcohol, being physically aggressive, or skipping
school. Clear communication about your expectations is especially
important. Research shows that teens who believe their parents
disapprove of risky behaviours are less likely to choose those
behaviours. Through 25 chapters in the book, the author Seema Gupta
shows parents how they can bridge the generation gap with their teenage
children with the inclusion of Diary Entries, View Points, Parental Tips
and Counsellor's Advice. Parental monitoring includes: 1. The
expectations parents have for their teen's behaviour 2. The actions
parents take to keep track of their teen; and 3. The ways parents
respond when their teen breaks the rules. Parents are also monitoring
when they 1. Check in with your teen by phone. 2. Get to know his or her
friends and their parents. 3. Talk with your teen about how he or she
spends time or whether he or she is making safe choices. Set and enforce
rules for your teen's behaviour by clearly explaining the rules and
consequences and following through with appropriate consequences when
the rules are broken.
