Dear Urban Diplomat: My son’s obsession with urban exploration is freaking me out

Dear Urban Diplomat, My teenage son is getting into urban exploration, and it’s keeping me up at night. His friend has convinced him that gallivanting through abandoned properties like the Hearn is a sure-fire road to TikTok stardom. When I asked this friend’s parents about it, they just said, “Kids need adventure.” Am I out of touch or is this behaviour super unsafe—not to mention illegal? Last week, I saw a video of his friend hanging out the back door of a subway car. Should I forbid my son from seeing him? Or call the cops on them for trespassing? —Reckless Abandon, South Riverdale

Related: Dear Urban Diplomat—The pickleball court next door is driving us up the wall

Banning your son from fraternizing with this kid will probably just fuel his rebellion. I’d also recommend against involving the police in any form of child rearing. Try redirecting his enthusiasm toward a less dangerous pursuit. Events like Doors Open Toronto would allow him to explore the hidden city without falling down some shaft in a factory. If it’s social media clout he’s craving, tell him #UrbEx peaked in the 2010s and suggest on-­camera activities that are trending now, like dancing to ’90s pop or eating something gross.

Related: “My favourite pastime is sneaking into abandoned buildings”