How to Support Your Kids When They Make Mistakes

As parents, it’s your job to look after your kids and make sure they do not get into trouble. However, there is only so much you can do, especially when they get older and more independent. They won’t spend as much time at home, which means there is an increased risk of them getting into trouble. Suppose you get a phone call one day asking you to come into their school or–god forbid–the police station. It’s tempting to blow your top, but that won’t help anything. Instead, you need to know how to support your kids when they make mistakes. 

Assess What Has Happened 

There is a chance that you might receive a panicked phone call from your child. They may be in tears or sound scared. You can immediately tell that something is wrong. Before you proceed, you must get all the information you can to assess the situation and determine what to do next. You may need to call an ambulance, the police, or an emergency plumber or electrician depending on what has happened. 

Follow the Right Protocol 

Once you have assessed the situation, you should follow the right protocol. If you spoke to someone, they should have told you what to do next, which will help you ensure that no further damage occurs. It might be that you need to get in touch with a Criminal Defense Attorney to understand your child’s options before doing anything else, and they may suggest that everyone stays quiet to prevent incriminations or further problems. 

Do Not Let Them Shy Away

Part of being a parent is all about teaching your kids responsibility, but this will not happen if you look for shortcuts or allow them to shy away from what happened. While you want to protect them, you do not want to make things worse by encouraging even more illegal behavior. Encouraging them to face up to what they have done and taking responsibility, no matter how personally, academically, or socially damaging it could be, is the best thing you can do for them. 

Show Compassion 

Still, you also need to show compassion. In most instances, these mistakes are accidents caused by kids who didn’t know any better. This does not give them a free pass, but it can help you approach the next issue. Furthermore, shouting at them will not do them any favors, so focus on talking about it and showing that you are there for them. 

Help Them Learn From Their Mistake 

You cannot wave your magic wand and solve all the problems, but you can help your child learn from their mistakes. If they do not face serious charges, you can offer them support but also outline some rules. If they were involved in a car accident caused by reckless driving, limit their accessibility or make sure you are with them. If they damaged property, grounding them or having them help with repairs could be the solution.

Oops 

Well, perhaps not oops so much. While kids will be kids, they should also learn the difference between having fun and causing serious trouble. Hopefully, your kids never get into serious trouble, but if they do, these tips can help you provide the support they will need without absolving them of all responsibility. 

Samantha

Samantha hails from Virginia and is a proud wife to a retired Deputy Sheriff and mother to two amazing little boys named Jack & William. A veteran product reviewer; Samantha has been reviewing products for 8 years and offers high quality product reviews with original photography.