It’s hard to prepare a teen for the real world. No matter what you teach him or her, you know that he or she will eventually run into a novel situation. If you want to make life easier, it may be a good idea to start preparing your teen for situations that are a bit more unusual. Below are three unlikely situations for which your teen should be prepared.
Injury at School
Injuries happen at school all the time. Unfortunately, most children don’t know what they should do next. You should have a frank discussion with your child about what to do, including who they should call and where they should go. Your primary goal should always be to make sure your child is safe, of course, but your child should also know that he or she doesn’t have to sign anything the school gives him or her just to receive treatment. Make sure your child knows that the school’s primary responsibility has to be to his or her health.
Arrest
Brushes with the law happen all the time. From simple traffic stops to more serious crimes, teenagers can often find themselves interacting with the law. It’s your job to make sure your child knows how to deal with a potential arrest – including what to do when he or she feels unsafe or that his or her rights are threatened. Teach your child how to stay calm, how to speak to the officer with respect, and to know when to ask to call home for a lawyer. While never pleasant, it’s a good idea to have this conversation sooner rather than later.
The Death of a Friend
While it’s never a pleasant thing to consider, the fact is that teenagers die at an alarming rate. If you’re lucky, your children won’t have to deal with the death of a friend until they’re much older. To be safe, though, you should go ahead and discuss how your children can handle traumatic events. First and foremost, they must be comfortable talking to someone – even if it is not you. Your child should know that your door is always open, but that there are other resources to whom they may talk if they don’t feel comfortable disclosing their feelings with you.
Your teen should know how to deal with an injury at school, a brush with the law, and how to deal with a traumatic emotional event. Remember, you should always be a resource – but your child most ultimately know how to depend on himself or herself. The more independent he or she can be, the better prepared he or she can be for the future.
