Safe Teen Party GuidelinesWhen Your Teen is Giving a PartyPlan in advance - Check party plans with your teenager and know the guest list. If you agree on who is invited, you can curb the "open party" situation.
Set a time limit - Set a definite start and ending, and don't make parties too long. Consider daytime parties as an alternative to evening ones, or plan an activity such as swimming, skating, or renting movies.
Agree to rules ahead of time - Make the rules clear before the party. Discuss the consequences if a rule is broken. Talk about specific situations that could happen, and how it will be handled (ie. Someone coming to the party intoxicated). Make it the teen's responsibility to tell all invited guests the rules, preferably when they are invited.
RULES May be:
- No drugs or alcohol
- No leaving the party and then returning
- No smoking
- No "crashers" allowed
- Some rooms in your home are off limits
- Lights will be left on
Know your responsibilities:
- The responsible adult hosting a teenage party is visible and AWARE.
- Parents should only go away for a private weekend when theirchildren are being looked after by another relative or a responsible adult with similar values. If parents are away and a party is held where alcohol is consumed, it could result in a hefty lawsuit.
- Remember, it is illegal to serve drugs or alcohol to minors. You are legally responsible for anything that may happen to a minor who has been served drugs or alcohol in YOUR home. Parents are legally responsible for what happens to minors in their home.
- Invite another parent or couple over. Other adults are company for you during a long evening and can be of help with problems. Also, if parents have driven teenagers to your house, you might consider inviting them in to meet you, however briefly.
When Your Teen is Going to a PartyCall the host parent. Make sure that your basic ground rules, such as parental supervision and no alcohol or drugs will be enforced, before you give your consent for your teen to attend a party. If your teenager complains that you don't trust him or her, explain that the issue is not one of trust, but rather an issue of parents agreeing on certain ground rules.
Check the party plans beforehand with your teenager. Know where your child is going and with whom. When taking your teenager to a party, wait to see that he or she is inside the house. If you don't know the host parents, introduce yourselves.
Make it easy for your teenager to leave a party. If there is drinking or drug use taking place, or for any reason your teenager wishes to leave a party, make an arrangement that your child can call you (or a designated adult) for a ride home. Urge your teenager to NEVER ride home with a driver who has been drinking. You might have an understanding that there will be no punishments or restrictions for a call letting you know that things are getting out of hand.
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