Teen Parties

Where's The Party?

Can you remember the teen parties you went to?

They were usually the only time you got together with a big group of your friends and had fun.

Loud fun.

Crazy fun.

Dancing, showing off for the girls, or boys.

Being yourself.

Now you are a parent, you probably realize exactly why your own parents used to stress so much about your curfew, how you were getting home, who else was at the party…

All those questions you found boring and a drag are exactly the questions you should now be thinking about, and asking your own teen about!

When Your Teenager is Invited to a Party…

• Check with the parents on who will be supervising.
• Ask if there will be alcohol at the party. You may feel strongly about your teen being around people drinking or being offered alcohol. Make your decision based on their safety.
• Will there be any DVD’s shown? What rating are they? What are they about?
• How will your teen get there?
• How will they come home?
• Are you happy to trust them in a car with a teen driver?
• Is it clear that whoever is driving won’t be drinking?
• Have you agreed on an ‘escape’ plan with your teen? Make sure they have money for a cab or can call you if they need to come home.

More Tips On Teen Parties

• Expect that your teenager may like to have friends over so they can get ready for the party together. No one feels comfortable turning up at a party alone, especially not a teen.
• Be prepared for the fact that you may be the taxi service for a number of teens, or that you may be needed to drive your teen to a friends house to get ready there. (Don’t forget to check first about whether the parents are home and who will be driving the kids on to the party, etc).
• If you are dropping your teen off at teen parties and you don’t know the parents very well, or feel you need to check they are home, feel free to go with your teen to the door. Yes, they will be embarrassed, but it will give you peace of mind and limit any calls you may make to ‘check up’ on your teen.
• Make sure your teenager is clear about what time they are expected home and how you expect them to behave. Agree on what the consequences should be if any rules are broken.
• If you find reasons that show your teenager shouldn’t go to a party. Explain them clearly, then stick to your decision.
• Swap notes with other parents of teenagers, particularly the parents of your teens friends. It’s helpful to have similar rules and ideas on acceptable behavior. If you find your ideas are poles apart you may need to loosen or tighten up. Or you may have just found a reason to keep your teen at home!!

Your Responsibilities With Teen Parties

What about supervision and alcohol?

For advice on these questions and your free party plan checklist click here...

Organizing Teen Parties

A birthday party, or halloween party, or a party for a special occasion?

Times have changed. Do you need security? Do you have to talk to your local Police Department?

Read all about organizing parties for teens here.

Further Reading:-

• Find out about teenagers drinking alcohol here…
• Worried about teenagers and drugs? You need to read this…
• Advice on how to talk to your teenager here…