Dear Family Coach: My daughter is 16 and wants a job to save money for college. The other day, she interviewed at a local store. She will likely get the job. Unfortunately, I have a longstanding boycott of this establishment due to some of its policies. Should I stop her from working there or get out of her way? — Activist Mom

Dear Mom: Step aside, and let your daughter work where she wishes. It's wonderful that she wants to enter the workforce at her age. She took the time to apply for a job and had a successful interview. That's a big accomplishment. Don't step on it by poo-pooing the establishment or forcing her to back away from the potential job. Instead, celebrate her desire to make a contribution to the family finances and her interest in saving for college.

If you have strong feelings about the policies of the establishment, by all means, tell your daughter about them. She is new to the work world and probably doesn't understand much about worker benefits, layaway plans or predatory lending. This is a time to educate your daughter, not a time to control her. She will be working full-time soon enough, and then she will have to make her own decisions. Sometimes people are forced to make difficult decisions about where to work. Let this one be her choice.

Dear Family Coach: Our son spends a ton of time gaming online. Sometimes he is playing with his friends. Other times he is chatting and playing with strangers. Are these gaming sites safe for 12-year-olds? — Out of Touch Parents

Dear Dad: With the rapidly changing landscape of apps, gaming and the internet, it is nearly impossible to stay up to date. You are likely not the only parents who are unsure exactly how and with whom their child is communicating online. However, it is imperative that you work with your son to ensure his safety. Unfortunately, there are dangers in the online gaming world.

Explain to your son that not everyone online is who they say they are. Often, people are playing a role or have an online persona. Sometimes those people have nefarious intentions. While this point may seem obvious, many teens may not have considered it.

Require your son to follow some precautions to continue playing his games. Advise him to never reveal passwords, his birthday, his home address, his age or other identifying information online. He should use an avatar on his profile, rather than a real photo. And he should never meet someone who he interacts with online in person.

Above all else, tell your son that if another player does or says anything suspicious or makes him feel uncomfortable at any time, he should come to you. Let him know that he will not be in trouble because you care more about his safety than punishing him for any wrongdoing.

As the parent, it's your responsibility to periodically monitor his gaming. Limit his gaming hours so that he doesn't miss out on other age-appropriate opportunities. Sit in your son's room occasionally when he is playing. Try to enter his world by learning about the games he plays. You don't have to play them or even like them, but you should understand what he enjoys and the potential risks.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.