Alyson doesn't think she needs constant supervision. By the time your kids hit adolescence, chances are you know quite a few parents you trust, and they may know the family in question. Talk to them. Ask how they know this friend, what they have in common, what they know about the family. Listen for hints of ambiguity.
Kids often feel equal parts of fear and fascination about getting into risky situations.
Let older kids choose The bottom line is sometimes you have to be the bad guy and say no. If you think it's hard for you, imagine how hard it is for kids who are just learning their own boundaries and yearn for their friends' approval. There also comes a time to back off a bit and let kids choose their own friends, even if those friends aren't the ones you would have picked, says Alice Smith of York, S.C., whose children are in high school and college. Most adults, she noted, enjoy spending time with people whose political or religious beliefs are different from their own. The Orlando Sentinel contributed to this article.