Texting is Not Enough: Communicating with your Teen on Prom Night

Teens are preparing for one of the most exciting nights in their high school experience: PROM!

And more than likely, as parents, you are, too. You may be thinking about how you’ll communicate with your teens on prom night, to make sure they’re safe and having a great time.

Sending text messages to your teen on prom night is a good way to check in, but it’s also important that you take the conversation beyond the keyboard to truly connect and establish a plan with your teen, and start well before the big night.

Depending on your child’s personality and how they typically respond, determine the best time and place for having a focused and undisrupted conversation about prom night.

When you have their attention, ask open-ended questions to help prepare them for the potential scenarios they could face, particularly if they encounter peer pressure to drink alcohol.

If your teen responds better to digital communication, share information, articles or texts that promote positive and responsible behavior as a way to supplement – not replace – an in-person conversation.

Regardless of where the conversation takes place, make sure it happens before your teen hits the dance floor. Establishing boundaries and a plan will help reinforce positive and responsible decision-making on prom night and every occasion.

To learn more about how to communicate with your teen, visit the Coach section of our website.