Reasoning With Teens Who Loiter

Adults might be familiar with a teen loitering scene at a gasoline station, public park or playground. Teenagers might be milling around talking, listening to music, smoking or drinking alcohol. Some people are intimidated by such a scene, and store owners might worry about lost business, litter, vandalism or the potential for violence. In 2013, police arrested 14 teens in a brawling mob centered around several hangouts known for teen loitering, according to Philly.com. Parents should intervene with teens who loiter to prevent potential risks, and using reasoning rather than force or manipulation can be an effective strategy.

  1. Risks

    • Discussing risks associated with loitering can be helpful, because this points out the potential negative consequences of hanging out in public with friends. In the incident described at Philly.com, teens who became involved in the mob wound up facing legal charges, including conspiracy, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. Teens might respond to reasoning that parents just want them to remain out of legal trouble. Parents can also point out the potential for fighting or violence, reasoning that it doesn̵7;t make sense for a teen to put himself in a physically vulnerable position.

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    • Appealing to reason rather than emotion has benefits, because teen reasoning develops before emotional maturity, according to PsychCentral.com. Intellectual skills might be more firmly in place, so stick with facts and cause-and-effect relationships rather than presenting the moral or social appeal of avoiding loitering. Furthermore, emotional immaturity makes them more susceptible to peer influence, according to a 2009 University of California, Berkeley presentation about teen cognitive development.

    Further Action

    • Parents can complement discussions with their teen by reasoning with local leaders to reduce the appeal of teen loitering. Write a letter or attend city council meetings to request that additional lights be placed around popular teen loitering hangouts. Signs prohibiting trespassing or loitering, and signs prohibiting or restricting parking during certain hours, could also discourage the activity, according to Colorado community newspaper "Steamboat Pilot & Today." Parents could also request that picnic tables or benches be removed from hangouts, reducing its desirability. Recognizing that part of the problem involves providing alternate recreation options for teens, some leaders advocate enhancing teen programs. Parents can ask teens to get involved in phone call or letter-writing campaigns to redirect funding for teen programming.

    Confrontation

    • Direct confrontation is unlikely to resolve the problem of loitering teens, because teens might resent being told what to do by an adult. Because teens are more comfortable with ambiguity, they aren̵7;t always considering all consequences when responding to a circumstance, according to NBC News.com in a 2012 article, ̶0;The Real Reason Teens Do Stupid Things.̶1; When confronted, teens might respond in an unsafe or inappropriate manner. Teens might have unrealistic optimism that the event will go their way when responding to confrontation.

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