Risky behaviour in teenagers: how to handle it

Looking for new experiences is normal for teenagers, and sometimes it involves thrill-seeking or even risky behaviour. If you’re concerned that your child is taking unsafe risks, there are things you can do to help your child stay safe – and ease your own anxiety.

Thrill-seeking and risky behaviour: why teenagers do it

It’s normal for teenagers to want new experiences – although it can be stressful for you as a parent.

Teenagers need to explore their own limits and abilities, as well as the boundaries you set. They also need to express themselves as individuals. It’s all part of their path to becoming independent young adults, with their own identities.

Also, the parts of the teenage brain that handle planning and impulse control don’t completely mature until about age 25. This means teenagers are sometimes more likely than adults to make quick decisions without always thinking through the consequences.

And sometimes teenagers make decisions about potentially risky things to fit in with a group.

Common risky behaviour

It’s normal for you to feel worried about risky behaviour like:

• unprotected sexual activity
• sexting
• tobacco smoking, alcohol use and binge-drinking
• illegal substance use 
• illegal activities like trespassing or vandalism
• fighting
• truancy

Teenage interest in new experiences and thrill-seeking can include less concerning behaviour, like trying new tricks at the skate park. This behaviour peaks at around 15-16 years and tends to tail off by early adulthood.

Keeping your child safe

Knowing that teenagers test limits doesn’t make thrill-seeking and risky behaviour any easier to live with. Here are some ideas to help your child think about consequences and stay safer.

Talking about behaviour and consequences
Talking about behaviour and consequences can help your child learn to work out how much risk is involved in different situations. But be careful it doesn’t come across as a lecture or a ban on the behaviour, because this could encourage your child to rebel. For example, you might say, ‘There are going to be times when it’s really hard to say no to drugs. But you know how bad they are for your health and other parts of your life. I really hope you can stay strong’.

Working out agreed boundaries
If you work with your child on boundaries and consequences for breaking them, your child is more likely to follow the rules. You’ll need to be flexible and adapt the rules as your child grows and shows they are ready for more responsibility.

Talking about values
Knowing what’s important to your family will help your child develop responsibility and personal values. You can back up family values by being a good role model in things like drinking alcohol, driving and treating other people respectfully.

Keeping an eye on your child
Knowing who your child is with and where they are can help you protect your child. For example, your child’s plans change ask them to contact you and let you know where they are.

Staying connected to your child
If you stay connected and build a strong relationship with your child through the teenage years, they are likely to do better at handling situations like pressure to use drugs or be involved in sexual activity.

Encouraging a wide social network
You probably can’t stop your child from being friends with a particular person or group – but you can give them the chance to make other friends through sport, community or family activities. And if you make your child’s friends welcome in your home, it gives you a chance to get to know them.

Helping your child handle peer influence
If your child feels peer influence to fit in, you could help them think of ways to opt out without losing credibility. For example, they could tell their friends that smoking gives them asthma. Or they can’t stay out partying because they have a big game the next day and need to get some sleep. 

Let your child know they can send you a text message anytime they feel unsafe and need to be picked up, and that you won’t be angry. Some families find that a text ‘code’ – like an ‘x’ or a particular emoji – work wells. Your child texts the code and you call back with a ‘family emergency’ that means your child ‘needs’ to be picked up. It’s also great if there’s another trusted adult your child can contact with no questions asked.

Encouraging safe thrill-seeking

Teenagers need to take some risks to learn more about themselves and test out their abilities. This means that wrapping them in cotton wool is likely to backfire.

If your child is into thrill-seeking, try channeling this energy into safe and constructive activities, like rock-climbing, martial arts, canoeing or mountain biking. Some teenagers might find they love the ‘rush’ of performing in drama or creative arts.   

Support for handling risky behaviour

Thrill-seeking is a fairly normal part of adolescence, and most teenagers won’t take it to the extreme.

If your child occasionally stays out past curfew, you might not worry too much. But if they regularly do things with dangerous consequences – like using drugs, getting into fights, drinking or breaking the law – consider seeking help and support.

If you’re having a hard time talking with your child about risky behaviour, it might help to ask a trusted adult to raise the subject. Some teenagers find it hard to talk about sensitive issues like sex and drug use with their parents, but they might be willing to talk to somebody else.

Adapted from Raising Children Network, visit www.raisingchildren.au for more information.

For any questions or queries regarding any health issues please don’t hesitate to contact me by leaving a message in the front office or email: felicity.lukins@heatlh.wa.gov.au

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE-WACHS South West