Parenting a teen can be tough; it's hard to know if you're doing the right thing or not. Here are some tips from teens that can help keep your teen safe:
*Be a role model.
*Know your teen's friends.
*Encourage teens to go to parties with a trusted friend.
*Make an agreement with your teen that NEITHER of you will get into a car with someone who's been drinking.
*Get educated about alcohol and the consequences of underage drinking.
*When teens want to talk about alcohol, LISTEN and give facts.
*Lock the liquor cabinet (even better if you lock the liquor cabinet as soon as your kids are born!).
*Be consistent with the rules.
*Know where your teen will be and how they will get there.
*Have your teen call from a house phone (not cell) when they get to the house they're going to.
*Place an alarm by your bedroom door before you go to bed, and have it set for curfew. The teen must turn off the alarm when they get home. This is a great way to make sure they're home on time, without keeping their late-night hours! If they're late, the alarm goes off.
It's ok to host a party! Here are some tips the teens from Youth Advisory Board want you to follow to keep it safe:
*Homes where parents are away are frequent party sites. Alert the police if you'll be gone, so they can keep an eye on your house.
*Encourage a manageable number of guests.
*Set a pre-determined starting and ending time.
*Define areas of the house that are off-limits.
*Remember that mixed groups (boys and girls) can really change the life of the party.
*Have all guests enter and leave by one door, and prevent people who have left the party from returning, unless discussed ahead of time.
*Discuss acceptable behavior with your teen.
*Provide food and drinks. This prevents teens from bringing in their own (possibly alcoholic) drinks.
*Be available during the party.
*If, despite all your planning, problems arise, don't hesitate to call the police.
