For Prom This Year, Plan Ahead for Fun and Safety

This article was written by Joan Janusz, a member of the Northfield Mayor’s Task  Force  on Youth  Alcohol and Drug Use. 

It’s spring says the calendar.  Really? you say--with snow still around. But there are signs.  Ask those high school juniors and seniors who will be going to prom in a month (May 4).  And talk with parents who are planning the After-Prom party.

Prom is one of the rites of spring.  It’s exciting--and expensive!  Dresses and tuxes, hairdos and nails, maybe fancy dining, even limos for some.  However, parent’s main concerns may not be financial.  Bigger worries are the possible risky behaviors that can be associated with prom; substance use, unsafe sex, unsafe driving.  The highly charged excitement may lead to poor judgment and dangerous choices.  In some communities, drunk driving after prom has led to tragic accidents. 

Fortunately in our community this hasn’t happened for many years.  The parents who plan the inexpensive ($5 at the door) After-Prom party deserve much credit.  The party provides fun, safe entertainment for all juniors and seniors whether or not they attend prom.  Jesse James Lanes hosts the event from midnight to 4 a.m. The doors will open at midnight and students must arrive by 1 a.m. There will be many fun games and fabulous prizes donated by local merchants. Students must be present to win. They may leave any time they want, but then cannot re-enter. 

Even if your teen plans to go to the After-Prom party, it is still important to talk about details of the evening to ease your own anxieties and keep your child safe.  The following tips for parents pertain especially to prom but are applicable for effective communication in general with your children.

1. Talk with your teen openly and above all-listen. Keep the lines of communication open. Your teen may want to go to prom but not be asked.  This can be devastating; be there for support.  If they are going, let them know you want them to have a wonderful time and keep that as the main focus.  .
2. Together plan the exact schedule for the evening and write it down: who they will be with, who is going to drive, where they will be going. 
3. Have a cell phone check in time (or two)  at an agreed upon time.
4. Set a curfew—definite time so your teen knows what time they are expected home.
5. Even though they may say they have heard it “a hundred times”, review the non-negotiable rules: no drinking alcohol or riding with someone who has.
6. Remind them of the unconditional option of calling you any time for help, picking them up any time. As a parent, always welcome being part of their making smart and safe decisions.

Prom is not the only spring happening, of course.  With warmer weather comes a change in activities.  Keep talking with your children about what they are doing, where they are going, who they are with.  Without being too intrusive, be involved.  The Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use advises TLC (Talk, Listen, Connect) to ensure both fun and safety for our most precious resource—our youth.