Three legal issues are examined: (1) the responsibility of children for breached contracts and the commission of torts; (2) parental liability; and (3) relevant law in North Dakota and other states. The people most affected by the actions of children are parents, merchants, and victims of vandalism. People who enter into contracts with children need to understand that minors may disaffirm their contracts and obtain a refund of any monies advanced. Parental responsibility for the torts of children is probably the most sensitive issue in this area of the law. Balancing a victim's right to be compensated with the imposition of parental liability is difficult. Arguably, the statutory limits on parental liability in most states are insufficient and should be increased to a higher amount. In most circumstances, it is very difficult for victims to recover from parents under a negligent supervision theory. A highly publicized increase in the statutory parental liability could stimulate parents to discuss the implications of delinquent behavior with their children. This could be the first step toward eliminating the problem of vandalism. (RH)