Overprotecting children can backfire. If you try to restrict them, they will turn away from you and sneak around, and then you cannot protect them at all.
However, you can easily just keep track of where your children are. Have them call you to check in at a certain time at night or in the evening. If you allow them to stay out all night, make sure they call you by a certain time in the morning. Doing this will help you spot a problem before it happens, or at least limit the time it takes you to spot it. Additionally, the very act of checking in will make your child think about what they are doing and any risks involved.
