Humanities Homework Help

Parental monitoring is parents’ ongoing awareness of what their children are doing, where, and with whom. This is a powerful deterrent for risky sex and drug use. Too much interference, however, may contribute to adolescent depression.

Positive: Part of a warm, supportive relationship

Negative: When overly restrictive and controlling

Worst: Psychological in which parents make a child feel guilty and impose gratefulness by threatening to withdraw love and support

Discussion: What are your thoughts on this? How much control/monitoring is appropriate? For example, is it appropriate to have GPS tracking on adolescents or to use spyware to monitor adolescents’ activity on electronic devices? Where should the line be drawn; how much or little freedom should adolescents have?