Two Things I've Learned About Prom & Graduation Season

It’s Party Time! Prom, Spring Break, Graduation... We want our kids to have fun and create memories – but we want them to be safe. Both can be achieved by serving the best thing parents can serve their children: common sense. Kids who start drinking before age 15 are 6 times more likely to develop alcohol problems as adults. And with 4,300 children dying each year due to underage drinking-related causes, we all need to help our kids celebrate safely.

The two things I’ve learned about Prom & Graduation Season are:

1. It is the same old, same old. It is a shell game. Parents are seeing prom and graduation from their own time and experiences. While they want their children to have fun and have a wonderful experience, they don’t realize how times have changed and the new dangers that lurk. The rules are different and there are more opportunities for teens to experience negative consequences from their actions…even death. Teenagers tell parents what you want to hear, not what you need to know. Be a detective. Talk to other parents and find out what is really going on in your children’s circle.

2. Nothing will change until parents take action to set rules that work to save lives and eliminate a lot of long-term negative consequences.

The steps are simple. It is the parents’ resolve to go against negative social norms that is difficult. The brain is not fully developed until age 26, which is why teenagers have parents.  Please save your teen by doing the following:

Take the Safe Homes Smart Parties pledge to take steps to ensure that no alcohol or drugs are present at teen parties held in your home and to discourage alcohol and drugs at teen parties held in your community.

• Hosting a teenage party? We have tips.
• Your teen attending a party? Take our advice.
• Going out of town? We have you covered.

We also have tips for setting clear boundaries with elementary school children and other ways to prevent future issues. Share this message with others and encourage them to take the Safe Homes Smart Parties pledge.

Because common sense (not serving or condoning alcohol for teens) is the most important party supply, let’s make sure you have plenty of it.