A Night to Remember: How You Can Ensure Your Child’s Safety for High School Dance Nights

High school dances are a fun way for teenagers to participate in a formal event. They are also considered opportunities to act as a full-fledged adult.

These events involve arranging a complete evening of dining, dancing, and socialization. Preparations generally include finding proper apparel, arranging transportation, determining the details of arrival, and more. However, just as much time should be devoted to making the event as safe as possible.

It is almost inevitable that a high school dance will involve serious exposure to alcohol or other intoxicants. The evening will also likely involve many young, inexperienced drivers who are excited about making their way to pre- and post-dance activities. Sadly, the combination of these factors makes any dance dangerous. Serious traffic accidents often become the main feature of what should be a night of joy.

What should you do to prepare?

Dance-goers and their parents need to create a strategy for making a night both memorable and safe. Here are some tips:

• Parents should know about all activity details, including dinner, pre- and post-dance activities, and more
• Confirm the night's events with school officials and other parents
• Consider arranging a safe post-dance activity where participants can be supervised
• Clearly lay out your expectations to your son or daughter about acceptable behavior regarding their evening
• Discuss all details about transportation, whether they are drivers or passengers
• Be sure that communications are set up. If the child does not have a cell phone available, find out the numbers where he or she can be reached during different phases of the evening
• If practical, consider arranging for a third party to handle transportation (limo or taxi service)
• Consider an amnesty arrangement. In other words, let your child know that they can contact a parent for emergency transportation should something go wrong and, for that evening, there will be no lectures or punishments

Whether it’s homecoming, prom, or any other event, help your son or daughter make their night a bright memory rather than a dark tragedy. Plan on making safety and fun everyone's priority.

For more advice and information on this topic, contact Williams Insurance. Our expert agents are ready to help you navigate these issues with confidence.