How parents can help teens resist dangerous internet challenges
Internet challenges can be fascinating to teens, who can be both impulsive and drawn to behavior that draws attention, especially in social media.
Some challenges, like the ALS ice bucket challenge or the mannequin challenge, can be fun and positive activities. But other challenges that pop up on the internet are dangerous and can lead to permanent harm.
You may have heard of the cinnamon challenge, the Tide pod challenge, the choking game, or the salt and ice challenge - all of these can cause serious injuries. Being aware of these challenges and understanding why they lure teens is important for all parents.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some advice to help parents guide their adolescents to making wise choices.
Why are teens susceptible?
Teens' brains are still developing. The part of the brain that handles rational thought, the prefrontal cortex, is not fully developed until the mid-20s.
This means teens are naturally more impulsive and likely to act before thinking through all of the ramifications.
The role of social media
Social media rewards outrageous behavior, and the more outrageous, the bigger the bragging rights.
It's a quick-moving, impulsive environment, and the fear of losing out is real for teens. That environment plays into a teen's underdeveloped ability to think through their actions and possible consequences.
Teens won't necessarily stop to consider that laundry detergent is a poison that can burn their throats and damage their airways. What they will focus on is that a popular kid in class did this and got hundreds of likes and comments.
The role of parents - building a better brain
As a parent, you can help your teen build intellectual muscle.
Here's how:
1. To start a conversation, ask your teens about the biggest challenges they've heard about in their circle of friends.
Encourage them to see if they can surprise you. Ask them (calmly and without judgment) what they think about the challenge.
This helps build the skill of judging risk by talking about what they saw or heard and what could happen next time in a similar situation.
You can still exercise your parental options such as limiting contact with certain kids or making specific activities off limits.
2. If your teens mention an interest in participating in a challenge, use open-ended questions to encourage them to think through each step of the challenge.
Ask them to consider the worst outcome -- burns and trip to the hospital for example - versus the likely outcome - choking, coughing, getting sick.
Ask them to think about why they would do it - and if it's worth it.
Are likes and comments worth hours in the emergency department with a burned throat?
3. Be sure to "friend" your teens on social media.
Staying in touch on their preferred communication platforms can help you be award of what goes on in their day-to-day lives.
Watch their stories for clues about what is going on in school and with their friends. Let your children know that if you pay for the device and the wireless network, they have to friend you on in exchange.
4. Sometimes kids are more willing to talk about their peers than themselves.
Asking questions about school trends, friends and fads may yield more answers than direct questions about their own activities. No matter what, it is important to keep the lines of communication open and avoid passing judgment. Instead, calmly discuss the dangers in those choices.
While teens continue to grow, learn more about life, friends, and their place in the world, remember that their brains are still rapidly developing. As a parent, you can help nurture that growth and help your teens develop thoughtful, rational thinking - skills that will continue to be important years to come.
For more information on adolescent development and health, visit HealthyChildren.org, the website for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Children's Health is a continuing series. This week's article is courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics.