Risky behaviour in teenagers: how to handle it Looking for new experiences is normal for teenagers, and sometimes it involves thrill-seeking or even risky behaviour. If you’re concerned that your child is taking unsafe risks, there are things you can do to help your child stay safe – and ease your own anxiety. Thrill-seeking and risky behaviour: why teenagers do it It’s normal for teenagers to want new experiences – although it can be stressful for you as a parent. Teenagers need to explore their own limits and abilities, as well as the boundaries you set. They also need to express themselves as individuals. It’s all part of their path to becoming independent young adults, with their own identities. Also, the parts of the teenage brain that handle planning and impulse control don’t completely mature until about age 25. This means teenagers are sometimes more likely than adults to make quick decisions without always thinking through the consequences. And sometimes teenagers make decisions about potentially risky things to fit in with a group. Common risky behaviour It’s normal for you to feel worried about risky behaviour like: fighting truancy unprotected sexual activity tobacco smoking, alcohol use and binge-drinking illegal substance use dangerous driving illegal activities like trespassing or vandalism. Keeping your child safe Knowing that teenagers test limits doesn’t make thrill-seeking and risky behaviour any easier to live with. Here are some ideas to help your child think about consequences and stay safer: Talk about behaviour and consequences – for example, ‘If he hadn’t been speeding, he wouldn’t have lost his licence. Now he’s going to lose his job as well’. This can help your child learn to work out how much risk is involved in different situations. Work out some agreed ground rules with your child. Decide together on what the consequences should be if the rules are broken. You’ll need to be flexible and adapt the ground rules as your child grows and shows she’s ready for more responsibility. Talk abo