Do Curfews keep Teens out of Trouble?

The question in the topic is a debatable statement. For to the parents, this stands true and as for the teen it stands in the false. Everyone has their own opinion. This topic can be approached in both ways. If a parent and a child were asked if the curfew kept their children out of trouble then it might turn into a quarrel. The curfew policy was invented in the first place to keep children safe and out of any sort of trouble. But does this curfew policy really work?

In view of a local teenager, it was reported that:

“I probably have an earlier curfew than anyone. My mom wants to keep me really safe and my dad is not overly protective, but he is a dad no matter what.”

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In View of the Parents of the Teenagers:

According to the law of nature, parents love their children. They look out for them. They want what is best for them. Thus they tend to become over protective at times. For example most parents do not want their children to play outside when it gets dark. For the sole reason that some dangerous people might be lurking out at night. The children could get lost in the dark or fall and even hurt themselves. So they tend to put curfew on their children in order to protect them.

In View of the Teenagers Themselves:

But all this protection at times tends to suffocate their children. They start feeling left out as all their friends play outside till late. They think that their parents are suppressing them. They get upset. They do not understand why their parents would not let them play outside with their friends. They cannot comprehend the evil that lurks in the depth of the night. For they are too young to understand. Children do not like being taken as weak. Thus they start to rebel against their parents. Blaming them for why their friends do not like to play with them. Every time they ask for a sleepover party, their parents refuse.

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Rebellious Parents or Rebellious Teens:

Thus for the kids it seems as though they have rebellious parents, and for the parents it is as though they have rebellious children. But when a child is told not to do something, the curiosity triggers in them and they do it anyway. Thus if the child’s parents refuse his every little proposal over and over again. He gets frustrated. And in the end, he would start sneaking out late into the night, without his parents ever knowing.

It was also recorded that children before the age of innovation in technology had their share of fun:

“My curfew was the street lights, and my mom did not call my cell, she yelled “time to come in”. I played outside with friends, not online. If I did not eat what my mom made me, then I did not eat. Hand sanitizer did not exist, but you could get your mouth washed out with soap. I rode a bike without a helmet. And getting dirty was OK.”

Conclusion:

In the end, parents should at least try to understand their children and try not to reject all of their requests. And the children should be taught about the bad lurking outside. Families are meant to understand each other. There is no point in suppressing children as it would only lead to more rebellious personality. Indeed they would not be able to socialize and would in the end be ostracized by society. It is not easy being either a parent or a child. Everyone has their own school of thought. One cannot force their opinions on the other. Parents should be careful not to be so over protective nor be so care free. In both cases the child might become a victim of depression and loneliness. They would stop depending on their parents.

It was James Hillman who wisely pointed out the fact that:

“All we can do when we think of kids today is think of more hours of school, earlier age at the computer, and curfews. Who would want to grow up in that world?”

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