Respect their thoughts, as mentioned previously, but also respect their privacy and their decisions. If it s truly a danger and the child doesn t relent, other steps must be taken, but before anything else, give the facts and see if they might alter the decision. A teenager s bedroom is a refuge. Allow it to continue being that if the child is doing well with keeping it in order. It is their private place where thoughts and dreams fill the air.
Guidance is needed, of course, as a child matures.
Respecting them doesn t mean giving in to things we know are wrong or dangerous. We still must be parents and we still need to offer that guidance when required. There is a definite line between respecting a child s privacy and thoughts, and realizing the necessity to guide. What it actually boils down to is not very different than what we all distinguish as The Golden Rule. As adults, we want to be respected.