(Students who have spent a great deal of time at the Youth Center of the High Plains and are close to graduating from the program gave these answers.  The ages range from 13-17.) 

Discipline us:

•  “Be real strict.”
• “No hitting, just grounding.”
• “Discipline us themselves while holding strong to their word so we know that they won’t stand for being run over.”
• “Hold us accountable, while still showing us love.”
• “Don’t be a friend, be a parent.”
• “Be an authority figure and not a friend.”

 Set a positive example for us:

• “Show care and love. Do not be out partying or smoking.”
• “Set a good example for us to show us that we can have fun and stay out of trouble (family time).”
• “Tell us the truth.”
• “Provide a safe environment.”
• “Set a positive example and spend time with us.”
• “Give us a strong sense of morals.”
• “Don’t teach children your bad habits.”
• “Show them what you say, do the same thing yourselves.”
• “Be a positive influence by making good decisions.”

 Spend time with us:

• “Talk to us more, interact with us, do fun things with us.”
• “Pray with us.”
• “Hangout with us.  Show us how to have appropriate fun, like the movies, Olive Garden or Putt-Putt.”
• “Ask us about our problems.”
• “Have more family time with us.”
• “Spend more time with us and have fun with us.”
• “Tell us they love and care for us everyday.”
• “Say they love us everyday.”
• “Listen to us.”
• “Sit and talk to us about our day.”
• “Make time to have family time during the week.”
• “Get involved with the things we are involved with. We need to know we are part of the family.”

 Know who our friends are and what we’re doing/ get us involved!!

• “Be more aware of what we are doing and who we are hanging out with.”
• “Help us fill our free time (sports, church, job).”
• “Monitor who we hang out with at school or anywhere.”                
• “Make sure your kids are going to school and choosing appropriate friends.”
• “Keep us busy.”
• “Support us in good things like sports and school.”
• “If you don’t approve of your kid’s friends then don’t let them hang around them.”

 Don’t make excuses for us.

• “Don’t let things slide.”
• “Don’t ignore the little things.”
• “Allow us to work for things –don’t just give it to us.”
• “If you suspect something ask and get a straight answer. A kid needs to know that a parent is concerned.”
• “If they come in smelling like smoke or alcohol, it is probably because they were doing one or the other.”