Talk to Your Teenager: Things Every Girl Should Know About Self-Defense

It can be a dangerous world out there and as parents we constantly worry about what our children will experience and deal with on their own. It's especially difficult as the parent of a teenager. They are teetering on the verge of adulthood yet they are inexperienced and sometimes naïve about the harsh reality of life. Most teenagers seem to feel as if they have a "bullet-proof" shield around them and that bad things couldn't possibly happen to them. They tend to be reckless and rebellious in ways that make us cringe. It's our job to talk to them about the things that they might have to face one day and prepare them to deal with them without scaring them to death. It's a tall order but we have to do our best. Here are a few things that every parent should discuss with their teenage daughter.

Many teenagers are home alone for significant portions of the day. Their parents work and they are old enough to take care of themselves for a few hours. Yet if a criminal is intent upon harming your child they will also know your family's schedule and habits-they will make it their job to learn these things. What your teen can do to protect herself is to keep the doors and windows locked. If you have an alarm system have her turn it on when she's home alone. Make sure she keeps a phone close by no matter where she is in the house. If she has a friend that lives nearby and is also alone, suggest that they pair up together. They can take turns staying at each other's house and help each other with homework. It's much harder to attack two people together and a random schedule makes it much harder for a criminal to plan anything. Make a time to check in with your teen every day.