ONE - Talk to your kids: Parents talk to your children about drugs, but not gangs? Many parents believe that gangs are just an urban problem and that is not the case. Gangs have begun to migrate to all areas within the United States, to include the Greater Nashua area. Let your child know you disapprove of gangs and do not want to see them get hurt, arrested or even killed.
TWO - Tell your child not to: Associate with gang members. Hang out where gang members are located. Attend a party or social event sponsored by a gang. Use hand signs. Wear clothing associated with gang.
THREE - Know your child’s friends: Get to know your children’s friends. If you don’t know who your child’s friends are, how are you supposed to be able to monitor them? If your child can’t give you a friend’s last name, how can you be expected to know whom they are hanging out with? Require your child’s friend to have last names, and make contact with them when they are at your home. Monitor your child’s friend’s attitudes toward drugs, alcohol, and gangs. Ensure that they are congregating in a safe place during out of school time, the most dangerous hours for a child, are from after school to dinnertime.
FOUR - Give consistent limits for your children: Your child needs to know clearly what is expected of them. They also need to know clearly what the consequences are if they act otherwise. They need to know that there are consequences to their actions, and that you will hold them to those expectations.