We’ve picked out our outfits, made plans for a memorable evening and reflected on the past to create our New Year’s resolutions. As we eagerly wait for the countdown, have we ensured that our teens are going to be safe on New Year’s Eve?
The fun and festivities of the holiday don’t have to end in heartbreak due to teens using alcohol or other drugs.
Here are some simple steps to safeguard your teen on this celebratory night:
- Be sure you know your child’s complete itinerary for the evening, including who they will be with and contact phone numbers.
- Make sure your teen’s phone is with them and fully charged.
- Run through your pre-established plan for the night, reiterate the curfew time, and make sure everyone agrees to stick to the family plan.
- Remind your teen to make good choices about abstaining from drugs and alcohol.
- Be available throughout the night in case your teen needs help managing a situation.
- Stay up and wait for your teen to arrive home.
- Give them a big hug and ask to hear about their night, being mindful of the signs of alcohol or drug use.
By taking these steps, you will help to keep your children safe. In addition to this, come up with a couple New Year’s resolutions to communicate more openly with your children. Having an open line of communication with your kids throughout the year will help put them less at risk of using drugs or alcohol. Enroll in DrugFreeAZKids.org’s Active Parenting workshops to learn more about strategies to achieve improved communication and closer relationships with our kids.
