SUMMER'S TEEN TEMPTATIONS REQUIRE DILIGENT PARENTING

Teenagers might think of the long, dog days of summer as a time to sleep
in, lounge around and hang out with friends.

While the kids are taking a break, their parents shouldn't relax.

Research shows teens are more likely to smoke pot, drink or have sex during
summer than at any other time.

It only makes sense, says Don Smarto, president of Dallas-based Youth
Direct, a nonprofit youth ministry, and author of Lost and Found, a report
and analysis of at-risk youth.

Because parents often work, teens are less supervised than during the
school year and do things they wouldn't ordinarily be allowed to do, like
stay out late or have friends over without adult supervision.

It's understandable, Smarto says. Parents often consider their teens worthy
of some downtime after working hard in school. And, once kids hit their
teens, adults often view them as mini-adults, ready to make good use of
their time.

"To really think that kids home alone are not going to get into trouble is
just being very naive," Smarto says with a chuckle. "At best, they will
watch TV all day."

"Every teen gets pressured to do it," said Stephanie Hitchcock, 13, of
Zanesville. Even at such a young age, Hitchcock remembers a time when an
acquaintance offered her a cigarette to smoke. She didn't take a drag, but
she remembers the opportunity.

Zanesville resident Chelsea Musselman, 13, has not been offered any adult
vices up to this point, but does know how easy it would be to partake in them.

"If I wanted to do something, I would have done it by now," she said,
mentioning many hours of free time she has during the weeks while school is
out.

Some kids can stay out of trouble, but research shows many can't.

A new federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that June and
July were the most popular time for teens to try marijuana, with 6,300 new
users daily, a 40 percent increase over the school year.

Also, first-time use of alcohol and cigarettes increases in the summer. And
more teens lose their virginity than at any other time during the year,
according the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Teens who report they are "often bored" are 50 percent more likely to
engage in risky behavior, according to a 2003 study by the National Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

What parents should do, experts agree, is keep teens busy.

"The real mistake parents make is thinking, well, they're off for the
summer and off means doing whatever they want," Smarto says.

An estimated 9 million teenagers attend a summer day or sleep-away camp.
The key, experts say, is to find one that interests them: computers, music,
dance, or sports.

If a summer program isn't an option, schedule the weekdays for teens at
home, Smarto says. Provide a list of chores and activities, such as
gardening, reading, cooking and computer time. The structure will make for
an easier transition back to school.

To keep teens out of trouble, parents should know who they are with, where
they are and what they are doing. That's easier now with cell phones.

"Yeah, they may gripe a little," Smarto says, "But saying 'I need you home
by 10:30,' tells kids, 'I care about you."'

At a parenting seminar Smarto teaches, parents tell him that they want to
be their kids' friend. Kids have plenty of friends, he tells them: "They
need a parent more."

"I always had the mentality that once kids grew older, they could take care
of themselves and be by themselves," says Liz Arnold, a Phoenix mother of
two. "Then, I realized that when they are teenagers, they need a parent
more than ever."

The decisions they make at age 6 won't have the same impact on their lives
as the decisions they make at 16. She and her husband keep close tabs on
daughter, Leah, 17. Their son is 10.

They limit Leah's time on the computer. She has a curfew. And she's not
allowed at her boyfriend's house unless his parents are home.

She has chores and a part-time job. Leah's parents have to know where she's
going and with whom. She calls if she changes locales.

"I know if they didn't make rules, I would have been crazy," Leah says.
Because of the rules, she says, "I know they really love me."