Adolescence is characterized by the passage from childhood to adulthood. At this stage, it is totally normal and common for children to be likely to live new experiences outside the family environment. They want to build their own identity. They want to join a group, they want to socialize.

And it's totally natural for them to leave their homes to see this new world that lies ahead of them. But it is very important that parents can understand that although physically they are well grown, they are still developing the part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making, called the prefrontal cortex.

Therefore, your children still need parental supervision and monitoring, which are educational practices related to the skills of: knowing where the children are, with whom they are, what they are doing and what they spend their money with. In other words, we can say that they are educational practices that are linked to the ability that parents have to know about their children's lives.

For the good performance of this parental practice, it is essential that we understand two important concepts: positive monitoring and negative monitoring.

Positive monitoring can be defined as a set of educational practices that are linked to the attention and knowledge that parents have about where their children are, who they are with, what they are doing and what they spend their money with. In addition, in positive monitoring there are clear demonstrations of affection and emotional support, especially at times when children need it most. This opens a frank channel of communication and strengthens family ties, thus dispensing with the need for stressful supervision.

Negative monitoring,also called stressful supervision,is characterized by excessive supervision and repeated intrusions into the lives of children. This tends to generate a hostile, stressed and dialogueless family atmosphere, as children tend to develop a way, a way to protect their privacy. In this way, they do not share their feelings with their parents and avoid talking to them about their own lives.

Pay attention to the following parental supervision and monitoring tips:

1st tip: Establish limits and rules of family life - At this time is when you stipulate the rights and duties of your children. If possible, involve your children in the process of building these rules. This helps them understand the logic behind them and helps them fulfill them.

2nd tip: Be consistent in your attitudes – Parents need to work so that the rules are maintained consistently and consistently.

3rd tip: Get involved in your children's activities – This is the time when you facilitate the favoring of family ties. It's the moment when your child realizes how much you care about him and at the same time you monitor him.

4th tip: Meet your children's friends - If possible, live with them. Bring them into your house. Notice how your kids relate to your friends, what their friends think, what they think, and what their opinions are. Talk to your children's friends. This will help you have a greater dimension of the relationships your children have with others and understand how these friends can influence them.

Movie Tip: Coach Carter (2005) – Training for Life. The film, based on real events, is the story of Ken Carter, a basketball coach at a school in the suburb of Richmond, Virginia, USA. This film shows how a coach can positively influence the life trajectory of several adolescents who lived in a vulnerable situation and who had several risk factors associated with drug use. It's worth watching.