What Parents Can Do

Parents stand to lose the most: the well being or even the life of a child, if gangs take or keep hold of your community. Parents can do a lot to prevent or reduce gang problems.

Talk to your children frequently and listen to what they have to say. Good communication is open and frequent, and it takes on a positive tone.

Tell your child:

  • You don't want to see them hurt or arrested
  • You see them as special and worth protecting
  • You are there to help with any problems
  • Not to associate with any gang members
  • Not to spend time where gangs hang out
  • Not to attend parties or events associated with gang members
  • Not to use hand signs that are associated with gangs
  • Not to wear clothing that is associated with gangs

 

Additionally:

  • Respect your child's feelings and attitudes and help them develop self-esteem
  • Spend quality time with each of your children.
  • Establish rules, set limits and be consistent, firm and fair in punishment.
  • Talk to them about ways to deal with pressure from friends
  • Help your child be involved in positive supervised activities.
  • Educate yourself about gangs and signs of gang.
  • Know what your children are doing at all times and with whom.
  • Get to know your children’s friends and the friends’ parents.
  • Give your children responsibilities and chores at home.
  • Support your child in their school work and special interests. Become involved in your children's education. Keep in close contact with your children's teachers and let their schools know about any concerns you might have.
  • Report suspicious activity in the community, set-up or become part of a Neighborhood Watch program.
  • Help enforce truancy and curfew laws. Don’t let your children stay out late or spend a lot of unsupervised time on the streets.
  • Help your children identify with positive role models.
  • Know what is in your children’s rooms: be aware of gang paraphernalia or identifiers including gang graffiti (on walls or their school books), inappropriate music, magazines, illegal drugs or paraphernalia.
  • Secure all weapons away from children.
  • Let your children know that you do NOT approve of gang activities:
    • Do not condone or allow gang identifiers or paraphernalia into your home.
    • Do not purchase or allow your children to dress in gang related clothing
    • Cooperate with school authorities and police officers when laws are broken.
    • Report gang graffiti in your neighborhood.
    • Call 9-1-1 when you witness serious crimes
    • Always be a good citizen in your community and be a positive role model for your children.

You can find more information in the OJJDP Parents Guide to Gangs (English)(Spanish)or at notogangs.org