They Say: Rigid Parenting Leads To Sex
In news that will come as little surprise to most parents who were once teenagers themselves, obsessively monitoring your teenagers every move seems to cause them to engage in riskier activities than their free-range peers do. Who knew that treating teens like people rather than chattel encourage them to act like people?
According to a Boston College study, “warm, more democratic” relationships where parents don’t try to undermine a teen’s behavior lead to teens who are better able to make healthy decisions. Rigid and/or strict parents had teens who were more likely to hang out with a bad crowd.
Which isn’t to say it’s easy to let your older kids make their own choices guided by little but your support. Still, it seems to be the option that works best, according to the experts.
Why does Kaz care if someone doesn’t allow character merchandise? I’d hardly call that irresponsible parenting.She should save her nasty comments for people that dress their 7 year olds like hookers.
Does this apply to parents who constantly say “no” to character merchandise? You better let your fellow bloggers know…
@BBBGMOM – totally, that’s what I thought, too!
How do they control for the possibility that parents who have teens who seem untrustworthy and tend to hang out with bad crowds, tend to be more rigid and strict?
Omigod. When I read the headline my mind went instantly to assuming the article was going to say that rigid parenting led to more sex for us parents! As in – enforcing bedtime/not allowing cosleeping/locking the door/etc. Oh well… too bad.