Between schoolwork, extra curricular activities, friends and household and job responsibilities, teens may become overstressed. Somehow, with all their different obligations, they may neglect to study. And when the exam or test approaches they decide to cheat. Unfortunately, a certain number of teens may conclude that there is really no alternative. They decide that they must cheat.

This form of thinking is regrettable. When teens or anyone else cheats, people are hurt. They harm themselves as well as others; they undermine their honor and damage the educational process.

Regrettably, cheating seems to be more popular than ever. One poll of top honor students found that eighty percent of them admitted to cheating at least once. About ninety-five percent said that they were not caught. Over fifty percent of the students didn’t think there was any real problem with such actions. These are astonishing, shocking figures.

Why do teens cheat?

• Pressure. Many students are under constant and increasing pressure to earn the highest grades. To get into the best schools, you need the best grades.
• Some students cheat because everyone else is cheating; they also need to cheat just to keep up.
• They don’t have to study as much.
• Thrilling. Some students find cheating as thrilling experience and they just want to have some thrill.

But if this is an age when students are more tempted to start cheating, it's also an ideal time for parents to discourage unethical behavior in the classroom. Here are some simple steps you can take to head off cheating before it starts.

Talk it out

If you haven't done so already, sit down and discuss cheating--what it is and why it's wrong--with your child. Don't wait until you've got a crisis on your hands to bring up the subject.

Reduce the pressure

Of course, you shouldn't lower your standards completely. After all, it's important that your child knows that you expect her to succeed in school. But you can shift your focus from grades to actual learning. "It's important to praise kids for their best effort, for being good listeners, for learning from their mistakes--not just for getting an A,"

Teach long-term planning

When students don't have enough time to complete assignments, the temptation to cheat is stronger. Help your child schedule long-term projects so all the work isn't left until the last minute. In addition, regularly check in with your child during the school year to see whether he needs help organizing his time and to gauge if he's keeping up with his assignments.

Practice what you preach

If you take ethical shortcuts--fighting a parking ticket you actually deserved or lying about your child's age to save money at the movies--he'll pick up the message that it's okay to cheat. "Ethical behavior is contagious. Kids learn it from the adults in their lives: teachers, coaches, and--most important--parents."