family curfews

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Society is big on accountability.Politicians make nois about a rising rate in teenage crime and often blame parents for inadequate supervision of their teens.These people are wrong on two counts.Teen crime is falling not rising.And inadequate supervision isn't the problem, although parental abuse of children often is.The problem is that teen tragedies make big headlines and then everyone becomes an expert on what parents should have known about their kids.In fact you are probably doing your best with your teens and in most cases your best is quite good.Your teens are basicly good kids who can be trusted.That isnt to say you cant improve your parenting.You can spend more time listening and be more involved in their lives and less involved in yourself.You can talk with them so you know who they are.Your teen may be one who needs an early curfew but make the curfew resonable in the context of your teens friends.Dont make your teen come home at nine if his friends have a ten o'clock curfew.Think about some of the good reasons for giving teens a cufew:1.they are not getting enough sleep 2.they have an important event the next day and must be well rested for it 3.you know from experience that they cant be trusted 4.they are being punished.Here are some of the bad reasons 1.everyone knows that after a certain hour the only teens still out are up to know good 2.it makes your life easier 3.you had the same curfew at their age and look what it did for you.