According to a report from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, parents can help prevent juvenile delinquency, by having dinner with their kids 5 to 7 nights a week. The report further states that parents should provide emotional support and boundaries and they should also monitor their child's activities.
A child whose parents do not monitor their activities is more likely to become a bully, and 60 percent of those male bullies between the age of 12 and 15 have a criminal conviction by the age of 24. Children need boundaries, and a clearly defined set of rules and consequences. Consistency is important, when setting boundaries. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that negative behaviors correlate with poor diets. Parents should consider having their child checked for food allergies and reduce the amount of sugar he or she consumes.