June is an exciting time of year, particularly for our high school graduates and their families. May and June are also the months where youth impaired (this includes illegal substance use, distractions and cell phone use) driving accidents peak. Tie a red ribbon on your teens driver side door to remind him to drive safely.
Please have a discussion with your teen about graduation night and other events. Remember, adolescents feel that they are invincible. However, one bad choice and everything they have worked for up until now can be thrown away. Here are some suggestions to help make it an enjoyable night for everyone.
- Have your teen give you the cell phone numbers of their date and three of their close friends.
- Verify that the party bus driver cares about the safety of the kids – introduce yourself to the driver, thank them for taking care of your teen and all of the other teens on the bus. Remind the driver that school administration is on-site at the dance and there to help.
- Consider a curfew, nothing good happens after 1AM.
- Remind your child that everyone has a camera with them. They can and will take pictures of everything they see and post them all over the internet – shame and depression can follow and future employers and colleges do look at these sites.
- A school expulsion or arrest can result in a college rescinding admission.
Tips for Throwing and After-Prom or Graduation Party:
- Set clear rules in advance – including how many friends your child may invite – do not allow the use of social media to promote the party. We have had out of control high school parties that resulted in 100s of teens attending after the event circulated through social media. Teens should not be allowed to leave a party and then return.
- Do not allow and drugs or alcohol. The owner of the home is responsible for nay illegal activity that occurs in their house and after a minor leaves their house if the are under the influence. Greet guests at the door and ask them to leave personal items in a designated spot. Water bottles are often brought in containing spirits, take water bottles away and give kids a fresh bottle of water.
- Invite other adults to chaperone with you. This allows youth to see that adults can enjoy themselves without substance use. Other adults will also help you supervise all areas of your home and help you to stay awake through the party.
- Be prepared to call parents of youth who cannot follow the rules. Do not refuse admission to an intoxicated youth, arrange for a parent to drive them home safely.
Encourage participation at GRAD NITE. This is a safe, fun supervised event for our seniors. Let’s be sure that as a community we help to keep our youth safe.