What would ever propel someone to eat laundry detergent" Stranger still, what entices thousands of others to follow suit" The Tide Pod Challenge is just the latest in weird?and dangerous?dares that tweens and teens take on. (Remember #CinammonChallenge, #FiresprayChallenge or #EraserChallenge") While there are several social and developmental factors that make kids more likely to try stupid things, there are things you can do to improve the odds your kids will be able to resist the temptation.
Need for connection

Human beings are all wired with a desire to connect with others and form groups that give us a feeling of belonging, but this yearning is especially strong in the years preceding adulthood. And similar-age role models, or peers, have a significant influence on teens?even more so than their parents.
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Top choking hazardsThis peer group used to be limited to kids from the neighbourhood, classroom, club, or sports team. But as Tony DeBono, clinical psychologist at McMaster Children?s Hospital in Hamilton, Ont. notes, ?with the advent of social media, the way we see communities and groups has expanded exponentially, especially for young people.? That enormous network of connections?many of which may be superficial?allow trends...