Spend quality time with your child. Make time for your family to play, eat meals
together, take trips and have family meetings to talk about plans, feelings, and
complaints.
• Get involved in your child’s school activities.
• Be a positive role model and set the right example.
• Know your child’s friends and their families.
• Encourage good study habits.
• Teach your child how to cope with peer pressure. Help your child practice simple
ways to respond to peer pressure.
• Help your child develop good conflict resolution skills.
(www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/conflict.asp)
• Encourage your child to participate in positive after school activities with adult
supervision (recreation centers, organized youth sports, youth groups).
• Take action in your neighborhood, (create a neighborhood alliance, report and
remove graffiti).
• Set reasonable boundaries and structures at home.
• Be aware of what is going on in your neighborhood.
• Talk with your child about the dangers and consequences of gang
involvement. Let your child know that you don’t want to see him/her hurt
or arrested. Explain to your child that he/she should NOT:
∗ Associate with gang members.
∗ Attend parties or social events sponsored by gangs.
∗ Use hand signs, symbols, or language that is meaningful to gangs.
∗ Wear clothing including specific colors, which may have meaning to gangs
in your area.