Sending your teen to teen boot camp sounds like a really big decision. And it is. The tricky part is knowing [a] if your teen should go in the first place and [b] if so, then when.
As a parent of a teen it’s probably true that you haven’t been a teen for many years. Even if you were a young mother or father, it is probably 20 years or more since you entered your teens. And you don’t need to be an expert in human behavior to know the world has changed a lot since you were a kid. Drugs and the digital age have had a major impact on the life of millions of people.
So as a loving parent you keep a watchful; eye on your teen. You want them to be independent but you hear stories about teens getting into terrible lifestyles and you want your teen to avoid these and be happy and healthy.
So what should you be looking for in your teen’s behavior? Are there signs which tip off a parent that their teen is heading towards or is already in trouble? And what things are normal and okay and what things are dangerous? Well here are some signs which tell you your teen is in trouble or could be.
The important thing here is not to panic. Every teen goes through tough times. Their bodies are changing and their friendships can come and go. Their moods can vary and in many cases this is all part of growing up. Be sure that you are not worrying unduly. Maybe your teen is doing what we all did in riding the roller-coaster of life.
Body size and shape can be a factor. If your teen becomes overly concerned about how fat or thin they are or should be can be an unhealthy obsession.
Alcohol and drugs are two classic areas which will enter the life of every teen. If you have spoken openly to them about the dangers of these substances and how abuse of their bodies can have a serious impact on their life, that and any programs from their school and church will remove ignorance from the equation. But if your teen is involved in binge drinking or drug-taking, the time for seeking professional help has clearly arrived. This may well involve time in a teen boot camp.
School grades are an excellent guide to the well-being of your teen. If these take a sudden dive there will almost certainly be a reason. Discover the cause of the drop in academic results and tackle the problem immediately.
Anti-social behavior is depressing to watch and even frightening for many parents. If your teen engages in depressive behavior, self-harm or unusual and aggressive behavior then you must trace this behavior to its root cause. Medical help is essential and starting with your family doctor is a good move.
Dropping out of school or relationships is worrying as is becoming a loner and spending long periods alone in their room. Again, there will be a reason or reasons why your teen has made this major behavioral change. Find out why and, if treatment is recommended, then a teen boot camp may be a possible solution.
Here are additional resources you might be interested in:
