Prom Safety

Prom season is underway, and your teen is probably very excited for the big day. Talk with your child ahead of time to make sure it is a safe and fun experience that will be remembered forever. While girls are usually the ones prepping for prom ahead of time, it is just as important to talk to your son about prom safety, too. Here are some items to discuss with your teen before prom:

Be sure to know your child's plans for the entire prom day and determine ahead of time how frequently you or your child will check in with each other. Tell your teen to call you if plans change or if help is needed.
If your child has a cell phone, make sure it is fully charged ahead of time, and have him or her take their cell phone charger with them to prom.
Tell your teen to make an agreement with friends to check on each other throughout the evening.
Discuss dating violence. Even if your child is not going with a date, it's important that your teen looks out for friends and classmates.
Understand the pressures your child may face on prom night, such as drinking, doing drugs or having sex, and discuss these issues transparently.
- Speak with your teen about the importance of respect, and that it is OK to say no. Just because friends or classmates are participating in these activities doesn't mean that it is a good idea or the right thing to do.
- Make sure your child always wears a seatbelt and does not get into a car if the driver has been drinking. Offer to pick up your teen if this scenario occurs.
Your teen, as well as friends and classmates, will be taking several photos and videos throughout the day and will most likely post them to social media, so remind your child to always use good judgment.
If your teen is attending an after-prom party, make sure it is adult-supervised and that your child takes at least one friend along.

For additional health resources that can aid in prom preplanning, such as acne, healthy eating habits and signs of a healthy teen relationship, visit Adolescent Health and Wellness.