When A Joke isn’t a Joke
The teenage brain is something that many parents struggle with. Teens can be dramatic, irrational and sometimes do things that you’d never expect. The reality is, teenage brains are different. The frontal lobes aren’t fully connected yet, for one. This is the part of the brain that helps us determine the consequence for something and determine if an action is a good idea. Without that connection, teens often reach the right conclusion a bit more slowly.
Insane Internet Challenges
The Salt and Ice Challenge
The Eraser Challenge
The Tide Pod Challenge
It isn’t known how the Tide Pod Challenge began, but it became a viral issue very quickly. The teens dare each other to chew up or eat a laundry pod. Even if a teen spits the soap out, consuming a small amount can be dangerous. It can lead to loss of consciousness, vomiting, trouble breathing and even death. It’s basically ingesting poison.
The Hot Water Challenge
One of the worst of these online challenges is the Hot Water Challenge. Participants pour hot (sometimes near boiling) water onto an unsuspecting “friend.” At a teenage sleepover, this resulted in burns so severe that the recipient (who was not ware or actively participating) needed hospitalization.
What Can Parents Do?
- Be aware of the different challenges and dares occurring among teens. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to prevent them from happening in your home.
- Monitoring your daughter’s footprint to determine if she’s liking, engaging or posting anything about these challenges.
- Talk to your teen about the different challenges out there. Help them better understand the serious health issues associated with these challenges.
- Talk to the principal of your teen’s school. This is especially important if your teen reports seeing a challenge or takes part in one. Reporting the activity to the school could help prevent other students from engaging in the challenges as well.