by Gabby Bugwadia

Created on: March 07, 2010

Today in the 21st century, a large number of teens are at high risk for bad behavior. Many of them participate in some form of dangerous activity that tends to threaten their health and well-being. As parents, you have the strongest influence to combat this  bad behavior; your mind-set, your words, actions and example can make a BIG difference.

Experts believe that a lot of good can be achieved in this direction when parents keep a keen eye on their teen’s behavior. They believe that when teens demonstrate silence and withdrawal from the family, it may lead them into risky behavior. Falling prey to pressure from their peers, give rise to anger and violence, alcohol and substance abuse.

However, with focused guidance from caring, nurturing adults in the home and by adopting effective strategies, parents can help prevent their teens from going downhill.

Here are some simple techniques to help combat bad behavior in teens:

* Build a strong relationship

Building a strong, loving and healthy relationship is the key. An important step to building relationships with children is to begin early and take small steps to create mutual trust and respect. Successful parents work towards providing the right conditions and right environment for their kids. When parents work in harmony and are mutually respectful to each other, children learn to do the same.

* Love unconditionally

Unconditional love means loving no matter how your teen looks or dresses; no matter how he acts or performs. When this kind of love is denied, it might lead to feelings of insecurity and incompetence, resulting in low self-esteem and behavioral problems. Encouraging independence and building an unconditional loving relationship will do wonders for your teens.

* Spend Time

Parents need to spend a lot of time with their teenagers. Time spent in close companionship, mingled with even brief moments of sharing and attention can often bring miraculous results. Parents can involve in several aspects of their teen's life; they can show interest in his/her activities and monitor their teen’s interaction with friends. Spending time consistently serves as an assurance to your teen that he/she is worthy of your attention and time.

* Set Rules

It is of prime importance to have a set of clear rules for teens to follow. Research suggests that those teens, whose parents insist on following ground rules, are likely to have a lower incidence of dangerous behavior. Setting firm limits, assigning

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