Raising children is a very rewarding experience, and it comes with its own set of challenges, from steadying them as they take their first steps to watching as they compete to win medals in sports. When a child is small, they need complete protection, and as they age, this veil of protection must be slowly removed. Like it or not, your teenage kids are going to encounter the real world, not some make-believe world that shields the truth, rather reality; they will be exposed to substances, and there is nothing you can do about that.

Bringing up teenage kids is a juggling act, and with that in mind, here are a few aspects of teenage life that parents need to monitor.

• Online content – What exactly do they do online? You need to up your observation skills and do what it takes to know what your kids are engaging with on the Internet. Hopefully, it is chit-chat with school friends and maybe some online gaming; pornography is easy to find online, and what teenager doesn’t want to know more about this emerging feeling they are experiencing? They may well study at a prestigious international primary school in Bangkok, but are they supervised after school?

• Drugs and alcohol – As hard as it might be for a parent to hear this, your kids will be exposed to illegal substances and alcohol! That’s the simple truth, and if that is the case, then it is best to educate them about what is out there and the consequences. Some parents take their teenage kids to Skid Row to see what the result of drug addiction is, which is a hard but effective way to deter kids from messing with drugs. Whatever your strategy, don’t hide the topic and be brutally honest. Click here to learn about childcare development.

• Academic study – With so many distractions, it is easy for a Year 9 student to fall behind in their studies; a certain amount of freedom is given to the kids at this age, and some do not have the discipline and exam scores reflect this. Of course, when a student’s academic performance drops, they can hire a one-on-one tutor to catch up.

• Relationships – Of course, this is the age when boys are attracted to girls and vice versa; it is fine for relationships to form, just keep an eye on things, and sex education is a must. This is often a topic that is swept under the carpet because the parent does not wish to be put in an uncomfortable situation, which is the worst thing that could happen.

Your teenage kids are exploring Thailand and the world, and as a parent, it is your role to prepare them for adult life as soon as possible. This means hard choices sometimes, but we have to do the right thing; it is a balance of care and freedom. We must allow the kids to experience life, to make mistakes, because that’s how you learn.