How to Legally Keep Your Child From Running Away

Many teenagers threaten to run away due to problems in school with friends or with family. Running away can involve a permanent departure from the home or just a period in which your child goes missing. Taking your child seriously when he or she threatens drastic behavior, knowing the warning signs and keeping lines of communication open can help reduce the possibility of your child running away.

Things You'll Need

  • Prevention plan
  • Computer with Internet access

Instructions

    • 1

      Understand that you can't legally keep your child from running away. In fact, running away from home, while seriously discouraged, is not even illegal in most states.

    • 2

      Know the warning signs that your child may be considering running away. These include, but are not limited to, sneaking out at night, changes in behavior, increased absences from school and changes in friends.

    • 3

      Communicate with your child. Staying aware of problems in your child's life, as well as how (and how much) he or she is influenced by friends, can help you head off potential problems.

    • 4

      Limit your child's ability to run away. Restrict access to finances, vehicles and friends who may be encouraging undesirable behavior.

    • 5

      Try to get a hold of the parents of your child's friends. You may be able to track down your child or at least learn where he or she might have gone.

    • 6

      Call the police immediately when you suspect your child has run away in order to file a missing persons report. Should the police try to encourage you to call back in 24 hours, insist on filing a report right away.

    • 7

      Visit the National Runaway Switchboard Web site for more tips on how to keep your child from running away (see Resources below). You can also call the switchboard toll-free at (800) RUNAWAY.

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