By Norbert Georget
The air is getting colder and the leaves are starting to fall. The crisp crunch of leaves under your feet mean just one thing: Halloween is nearly here. Halloween is just around the corner, and while your teen might feel like he or she is too old to trick or treat, there are plenty of temptations besides candy that might cause your teen some trouble on spook night.
Halloween is one of those nights where mischief is in the air, and while a little bit of innocent fun is okay, many teens tend to find themselves in over their heads and out of control. Whether it is a trick on a neighbor that has gone bad or a new temptation in the form of alcohol or drugs being available at a Halloween party, you can do things to make sure your teen stays safe this Halloween.
Talk, Talk, Talk
I know I preach this particular method a lot, but there really is nothing more important than talking to your teens. Let your teen know that you understand him or her wanting to have fun on Halloween, but that you expect him or her to make good choices. Help your teen feel empathy about how a neighbor would feel if a prank was played that caused damage to home or property. Let your teen know that if he or she does end up in a situation that is out of control, you will gladly come to get him or her no questions asked.
Knowledge is Power
Knowing where your teen is and how he or she plans to spend the night is half the battle, so make sure you know what your teen is doing. Don't just turn him or her loose on the street with no plan other than "hanging out." Make sure your teen knows what time he or she has to be home (and set a reasonable curfew). Remember, there will be lots of people and cars out, so you want your teen to be safe, even if he or she doesn't like you for it the next day.
If your teen is being allowed to go to a party, make sure you know where it is, whose family is hosting it, and whether or not there will be parents there to supervise. It is never a good idea to allow your teen to attend an unchaperoned party, and it is ok to say no to your teen if there is going to be alcohol available.
Host a Halloween Party
If you really want to keep your teen out of trouble, host a party instead of sending your teen off to party somewhere else. Set up a haunted house or turn your garage or basement into fright central. Let your teen invite plenty of friends, but make sure there is no alcohol. Give them some space to have fun, but check in occasionally. By hosting the party, you can have more control over what kinds of activities take place and whether or not the kids are being offered alcohol.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you'll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
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