They are the scourge of every neighbourhood they enter. Like a fatal disease,
gangs worm their way into an area and take over, ruling by fear and intimidation and infecting a community with guns, drugs and violence. Police are working hard to treat this societal illness but the legal doctors only arrive after the problem has already spread. Parents and those who advise the kids have to play their part too. And many believe the only real answer will be to stop young people from joining the groups before they become too embroiled in them to escape.
How can you tell if your child is involved with a gang? Here are some signs.
-Teach them early that gang culture isn't something they should either admire or aspire to. Four or five-years of age isn't too soon to hammer this message home. Some will listen, some won't. But it's better than never hearing the warning at all.
-Give your kids lots of attention. The gang culture offers a sense of belonging they may seek out if you don't provide one.
-Keep your kids active in other activities, like sports or clubs after school and on weekends.
-Know who their friends are. Be aware of anyone that doesn't strike you as being quite right. And don't be afraid to set and enforce a curfew.
-Be on the lookout for constant rule breaking and unexplained absences. Teens are naturally secretive, so while that could be a warning sign, it may also be just an age-related change.
-Beware of alterations in their behaviour. They naturally occur in teens, so it's sometimes hard to read all the signs. They include: a change in the kind of people they hang out with, new dress habits (including wearing the same colour combinations all the time), flashing secret hand signals, diminished interest in activities they always loved, and the sudden appearance of cash they shouldn't have access to or clothes or equipment they shouldn't be able to afford.
-Watch for changes to their grades. Kids who don't do well in school often turn to gangs. Consider a tutor or a counsellor if the report cards aren't what they should be.
-Monitor the music. Kids listen to all kinds of tunes, but if they seem especially obsessed with gangster rap or you don't like the messages in the songs, let them know you're concerned.
-Watch for vandalism, graffiti, or drugs, all of which are commonly associated with gangs.
-Also be aware of the other end of the spectrum: signs your child is being bullied or harassed by gang members or what some experts term 'gang wannabes'. You don't have to join a gang to become a victim of one.
With files from
National Parent Teacher Organization
Photo credit: Getty Images/AFP/Tim Zielenbach