HOW TO DISCUSS BODY ART WITH TEENS

Emma advises talking openly when your kids say they want tattoos or piercings, so they don't regret their choices

Ilove tattoos and I piercings, my husband is covered in them and I used to have 15 piercings. Even so, I’ve discussed the downsides of body art with both my teenage boys. It takes seconds for someone to make up their mind about the kind of person they think we are. In an interview – or if your child wants a certain career, like a doctor or pilot – tattoos and piercings could limit their future prospects. If they’re thinking about decorating their bodies, they need to think about the possible consequences.

Both my sons want tattoos and have even helped design some of my husband’s, but they also know that waiting until they are adults and choosing tattoos that they’ll like for the rest of their lives is a big responsibility.

If your children are old enough to legally make their own choices, help them to explore what they want, why they want them and where they want to have body art, because they will likely go ahead with or without your support. I try to see the world through my boys’ future employers’ and partners’ eyes. If I believe that their choices won’t affect people’s perceptions of them, then I’m happy to allow them to do what they want. I’ve also made them aware of costs and risks, without over-hyping them.

As a teenager, my mum let me dress as I liked, shave my head and get piercings, but she always insisted that I be clean and kind. Parenting is about letting kids be the unique individuals they want to be, as long as they are safe.