What Do You Do When You See Your Child Heading Down the Wrong Path?

Talk to Your Kids

• When you feel like your children are headed in the wrong direction, you might be tempted to maintain a hands-off approach. You might worry that discussions will lead to confrontation, and that, as a result, your children will pull further away. However, talking to your kids about your uneasiness is a better alternative. As long as you control your temper, offer positive feedback, express your concerns in love, maintain an appropriate tone and have realistic expectations, your children will likely respond to your concerns. Without open discussions, your children might assume that you don't care or are unaware of their struggles.

Correct Without Punishment

• Children who cheat on their school work, lie to their parents, express anger in negative ways or make unhealthy decisions often feel unappreciated and neglected. When children feel respected and have their needs met, they no longer feel pressured to behave inappropriately to get attention, according to PBS.org. Scolding angry children or punishing them without hearing their side of the story can lead to bitterness and rebellion. You can stop this negative cycle by focusing on root problems and providing support during difficult times. Your child may be struggling with his school work, have trouble making friends, doesn't know how to handle peer pressure or feels like his life is spinning out of control. Helping your children find solutions, modeling positive behavior and providing healthy outlets are considered more effective behavior-modification strategies than issuing anger-initiated punishments or rebukes.

Share Your Story

• Children often feel like they don't measure up to their parent's expectations and wonder if they'll grow up to be productive and capable adults. Share your personal journey, so your children see you as a real-life, imperfect human being. If you went down the wrong path, share your struggles and victories to get back on track. You offer grace and acceptance by being approachable and reassuring your children that everyone makes mistakes. Children need to know that it's never too late to redirect their priorities, change their attitudes and re-establish positive goals.

Teach Problem-Solving Skills

• Children don't automatically know how to make decisions and often react impulsively without thinking. Teach them problem-solving skills so they don't jump haphazardly into questionable waters. When you see your children start to make wrong decisions, stop them and encourage them to consider their options, says psychologist Jim Taylor on PsychologyToday.com. Children can learn to assess their options, evaluate the consequences and ask questions before making decisions. For example, if your child cheats on his schoolwork, discuss tutoring options and effective study habits as positive alternatives to school-enforced detentions and failing grades.