Being a “hands-on” parent means always making an effort to be involved in your child’s life. The Institute for Youth Development recently proved the importance of this in their report revealing that “hands-on” parents raised teens who drank, smoked, and did drugs significantly less than the general teen population. So make a difference in your child’s life by becoming a “hands-on” parent with these 3 simple steps. First, monitor what your child is exposed to through television, websites, and music. Second, monitor their performance in school and in extracurricular activities by reminding them that you just want their best, not perfection. Finally, monitor your child’s safety. This means knowing the friend they’re spending time with or where they’re going after school. Always look for new ways to be a “hands-on” parent.