Troubled Teens And The Slippery Slope Between Fun and Danger

Teens often push boundaries; it is a perfectly normal part of growth and development.  Troubled teens are impulsive and rarely do they objectively think things through or examine the consequences of their actions.  They never imagine that anything bad could possibly happen to them in the pursuit of fun.  Far too often however, what starts off as a simple prank or game can quickly turn deadly.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools offers a safe, structured academic environment where struggling teens can learn healthy ways to succeed and express themselves, without crossing the fuzzy line between fun and danger.  

There is nothing more intoxicating to a teen than their friends.  What teen doesn’t crave acceptance from their peers, and what better way to gain that acceptance than to actively participate in those activities that they are all involved in?  You may have heard of the “cinnamon challenge”, a spin on truth or dare, someone actively tries to swallow a certain amount of pure cinnamon without drinking water.  Anyone who has spent any time on YouTube can tell you how popular this challenge has become.  It’s all fun and games until someone accidentally inhales a tablespoon worth of pure, corrosive cinnamon.  

The distinction between fun and danger blurs all too quickly.  The games that teens play are games because of the thrill they give and the positive stories they hear from others who have played them.  Troubled teens in particular are susceptible to the allure that some of these activities promise.  A young girl struggling with low self-esteem might see these games as a way to gain acceptance.  The young man exhibiting angry, defiant behavior may bully his peers into playing.  

Which Games Often Blur the Fine Line Between Fun and Danger?

The games in this category are numerous and varied, and many of them are renamed depending on what region they might be played in.  A few that you should make yourself aware of:

• The Choking Game
• The Cinnamon Challenge
• Huffing or Dusting
• Car Surfing
• Mumblety Peg

Ask your teen what games they are playing.  Are their friends playing?  What happened?  Explain the dangers that some of these games possess.  Keep yourself involved and you can help prevent what should be fun and games from becoming deadly.