“What can I do to keep my kids from joining a gang?”

Here are some parenting skills that are especially important:
 

1) Talk with and listen to your child. Spend some special time with each child.
 

2) Put a high value on education and help your child do his or her best in school. Do everything possible to prevent dropping out.
 

3) Help your kids identify positive role models and heroes—especially people in your community.
 

4) Do everything possible to involve your children in supervised, positive group activities.
 

5) Praise them for doing well and encourage them to do their very best—to stretch their skills to the utmost.
 

6) Know what your children are doing and with whom. Know about their friends and their friends’ families.
 

7) Address the issue. It is important to discuss with your child gangs and the problems they can create. The best time to talk about gangs is before there’s a major problem. Tell your child that:
¨ you disapprove of gangs
¨ you don’t want to see your child hurt or arrested
¨ you see your child as special, and worth protecting
¨ you want to help your child with any problems he or she might face
¨ family members don’t keep secrets from each other
¨ you and other parents are working together against gangs
 

It is important that you really listen to what your child has to say.
 

8) Talk with other parents. For one thing, you’ll find out what everyone else’s parent really said. For another, you can support each other and share knowledge that will help spot problems
sooner than you can on your own.