Most parents agree that keeping a close eye on their kids is important. Many insist that computers be kept in a common area when kids can't hide what they’re doing online. Parents get to know their kids' friends (and the friends' parents), and stay up-to-date on daily activities.

But is it ever OK for a parent to go behind his child’s back? Search his room? Log on to his MySpace page? According to a number of parenting experts, the answer to these questions is "no."

“Many experts feel that snooping on your child does more harm than good. Spying can destroy your child’s trust and make it less likely for him to confide in you when he’s in trouble. It’s best to discuss your concerns with him, keep the lines of communication open and let him know he can talk to you about anything.”(Source: MyOptumHealth)

Snooping should only be a last resort that follows numerous attempts to talk to your child and strong evidence that he is engaging in dangerous behavior but won’t be honest about it. Before violating your child's privacy, be sure that you can defend your actions, and that you’ve exhausted all other options.

Labels: parental_involvement, privacy, teenagers