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Test Yourself:
Is Free Time a Free for All?
Take this short quiz to see what you can do to keep your teens safe and out of trouble when they’re not in school.
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Fact:
Two-thirds of kids say that upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends is one of the main reasons they don’t smoke marijuana or use drugs. Set limits with clear rules and consequences for breaking them.
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Question 1:
Have you talked to your teen about the dangers of drugs and how you feel about drug use in your home?
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Fact:
More than 25 percent of young people age 12 to 17 have used an illicit drug in their lifetime. Illicit drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription drugs used nonmedically.
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Tip:
Work with your teens to create a schedule for their free time. Know where they will be, who they will be with, and what they will be doing during unsupervised time.
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Tip:
Make sure you know who your teen spends time with – both on and offline. Check out their social networking profiles pages to see lists of friends, peruse their cell phone call history, and make an effort to meet their friends and their friends' parents.
Question 4:
Do you know the names of your teen’s friends?
Yes
No
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Fact:
While cell phones and social media sites can help teens stay connected, some social networking or video sites may also be used to spread rumors or post embarrassing photos. Remind your teen that the Internet is public space and anyone, including college admissions offices, potential employers, and even predators, can see what they’re posting online.
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Fact:
Research shows that during times teens are unsupervised they are more likely to use marijuana and other illicit drugs. Help your teen get involved in adult-supervised activities. It’s important that you always know where they are and who they are with.
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Tip:
It's important to spend time together as a family regularly. Eat dinner together as often as you can or schedule regular planned family time during the weekends and over school holidays.
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Free time does not have to be a free
for all.
Learn how to effectively monitor your teen's activities, and peer group and learn how to make a strong case against drug and alcohol use.
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Keep your family safe
Teens are spending more time on their own after school, during school holidays like winter and spring break, and over the summer. They spend less than 20 percent of their waking hours actually in school and, at home, more households include a single parent juggling all of the responsibilities or both parents working full-time jobs.
While teens might be enjoying all of their free time, research shows that young people with unsupervised time are three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs. And unsupervised teens are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity, and cigarette smoking than other teens.1
You can still keep an eye on them, however, and know what they are doing during these unsupervised periods. As long as you set clear rules, monitor their activities (through technology, friends, neighbors, and appointed check-in times), and plan ahead, you can help keep your teens safe and out of trouble.
Plan ahead for summer vacation:
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