Rather than thinking that you're there to help them, your child might assume that you're out to get them. A damaged relationship with your child can lead to increased behavioral challenges. Your child may feel a deep sense of betrayal and may lose trust in you. It Could Change Your RelationshipĬontacting the police about your child's misbehavior is likely to take a toll on your relationship, especially if the situation was not dangerous or life-threatening. While there are situations that warrant a call to the police, be aware of the potential consequences before you pick up the phone. Remember that sometimes state laws dictate that charges be filed after you make the phone call.įrom there, the court system has control over what happens to your child, not you. Even if you say you don’t want your child charged with a crime, you may not have a choice. Their response will depend on your child’s age and the severity of the issue. When you call the police, you may not have control over how they respond. Calling the police to your home to scold your child prevents them from doing their job. The role of a police officer is to keep the community safe. Remember, your community's police force has many other important tasks. Consequences that last longer are much more likely to be effective.įacts About Today's Teens It Prevents the Police From Doing Their Job As fear subsides, old behavior patterns are likely to return.Ĭhildren also quickly realize that having the police called on them is only scary for a few minutes.
Children may change their behavior for a few days-or even a few weeks-following police intervention. Scare tactics tend to be effective in the short-term but lose effectiveness over time.
Losing privileges for 24 hours is likely to be more effective than a brief scolding. Children sometimes conclude that having the police called isn't a big deal-and maybe even think it was exciting-because nothing happened to them. Police usually just give kids a warning or tell them to "behave," but there is little else they can do.Īdditionally, receiving a warning can backfire. If you call the police about a mild offense, like when your child refuses to sit in time-out, the police aren't going to do anything beyond talk to your child.
0 kommentar(er)
