An invaluable life skill is the ability to access information when you need it. There are some basic resources your teen should know about. When they're young, we teach kids how to report their name and address, phone number and parents' name to those in authority who need it to help them. When they are lost, they can report this information to a policeman. This is as far as we often go in teaching our kids, but teens need to know more.
Teenagers have a knack for getting themselves into jams.
This stems from their new- found freedom, emotions that sometimes overrun common sense, and their belief that they are somehow immortal. They take more chances, test limits, and just don't always think. Your teen is home alone and the phone rings. It's a threatening phone call. Most parents are uneasy about letting teens stay home alone, but if teens are well prepared, there is no reason to worry excessively.