Is your child an extremist? Or just a normal rebel.

In light of the recent bout of teenagers joining ISIS or planning horrible terrorist attacks, parents everywhere are asking, is my child mixed up in something terrible? Teenage rebellion is normal, but it’s hard to know the difference between normal and extremism when your kids shut themselves off from you. Read on to see what you can do to make sure your child is safe.

When teenagers from everyday Sydney/Melbourne suburbs like Hampton Park and Craigieburn are producing violent, extremist teenagers supporting ISIS or terrorism, it’s terrifying to be a parent of a teenager. The truth is, you have no idea what’s going on in your son or daughter’s life. They’re staying out late. They’re disobeying you at every turn. Their behaviour has changed, and you’re just not sure if it’s normal teenage rebellion, or something more sinister. You want to respect their privacy, but you also want to make sure they’re safe and making the right decisions.

The bad news is, you can’t just meddle yourself. For one, you’ll likely not be able to find anything. Kids are excellence at keeping things from their parents, and they are usually more technologically savvy than their parents, making it easy for them to hide their online affiliations. Also, if they feel like you are snooping, they’ll get on the defensive, and take extreme measures to be even more secretive. Chances are, you’ll just damage your relationship with your child and get nothing from it.

The good news is, there are a few things you can do. You can watch for warning signs of extremism. If they allude to violence casually, if the suddenly change religion or if they are part of a religion or group that demands all of their time, these can be warning signs of extremism. Also watch out if they suddenly stop interacting with the outside world, lose their usual friendship group or are suddenly very strict about conforming to a certain dress code of lifestyle manner.

Then, if you think something is going on, you can hire a private investigator to find out the truth of what they’re doing. This will give you the best chance of finding out what they’re up to without them realising. If they’re not up to anything, you can breathe easy and cut them some slack. If they’re not, you now have the knowledge at hand to deal with it appropriately.

If you are worried about your teenager’s behaviour, our detectives can help you get the necessary proof or peace of mind. If you have your suspicions, please call us today to speak with one of our discreet detectives. We have the highest degree of experience and skill, and know how to get you the truth while keeping your suspicions discreet. Without being 100% sure, you can’t deal with the situation properly, so give yourself the knowledge you need to keep your child safe! Give us a call on 1300 721 715 or email info@eliteinvestigations.com.au to see how we might be able to unravel the mystery of your teenager’s secret life.