Year 10 Pastoral Guardian
Courtney Daniec
This week in parent corner we look at the topic of safe partying. Parties are on the horizon and your young adult wants to go because ‘everyone else’ is going. It’s understandable the worries you may have about the risks your teen might be exposed to. Having a conversation with your adolescent around safe partying can be difficult but its all also about building their awareness and having a shared understanding around expectations. We want to ensure we are balancing safety with having fun and growing independence.
This week I asked year 10 students to share their perspectives.
Dominque Year 10
Going to a party is part of a normal high school experience. As a teenager, I understand the concern my parents have when discussing parties. They want to keep me safe. However, eventually all parents have to make the difficult decision to let go a little to let the teen prove they can be trusted. To ensure both parents and children have their voices heard, it is important to communication openly and set some ground rules and boundaries.
To help the conversation, the following discussion points cold be a good starting point for both parents and teens:
For Parents:
- Make sure you know where the party is, what time it starts and finishes. Know how your child is getting home. It’s always good to have a Plan B in case things change.
- Know who will be at the at the party. Is it for your child’s friendship group or will there be family members, older students or adults attending? Will there be parental supervision?
- Parents should always let their children know that they can contact you at any time if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Providing multiple contacts for your child creates a safety network for them.
- Finally, be open and discuss risk and peer pressure with your teenager.
For the Teen:
- Make sure your mobile phone is charged and with you at all times.
- Make sure you always have some money, or access to funds, in case of emergency.
- Stick with friends that you know and trust. Call your parent to pick you up if you feel unsafe.
- Lastly, don’t break your parent’s trust. Trust when broken is very hard, and sometimes impossible, to get back.
Ruby, Year 10
Adding on to what Miss Daniec said above, I believe parties are a great way for teenagers to widen their circle and socialise with others. However, safety is always first. It is important to have a conversation with your parents about the topic. It can be hard having a conversation about attending parties, as some parents have different views to their teenager. When having a conversation like this, I would ensure I was being honest and respectful, as this is the best way to gain trust and freedom. Safe partying is a serious topic in which shouldn’t be ignored and should be talked about.
Courtney Daniec
Year 10 Pastoral Guardian