Celebrating Summer with Teens

There are many festivals, block parties, concerts, and celebrations during the summer. Teens look forward to these events and some are considered a rite of passage for teens as they attend these events with friends and peers unsupervised by the adults in their lives.

These events are enjoyable and worthwhile experiences but they can also pose risks for teens that are curious and eager for new experiences. As parents, it is important to engage your teen in conversation around how they will make safe and healthy choices while at these summer events. Communicating with your teen about alcohol and drug use is especially important.

Things to consider:

Talk to your teen about alcohol and drug use at events they will be attending, including strategies for how they will handle situations where s/he is offered alcohol or other drugs
Communicate with other parents
Ask questions and set boundaries
Communicate with your teen about how you expect them to behave
Encourage your teen to consider their future. How will the decisions they make today affect their future?
Be available to your teen and let them know you will be there if they run into trouble or find themselves in a situation that makes them feel unsafe
Make sure your teen has safe transportation
Maintain communication with your teen during the event and if possible, identify an adult (perhaps another parent) who would be present and available if needed

Help to make your teen’s summer a safe and fun experience. Keep the communication lines open!

For more information regarding safety, rules around alcohol and underage drinking and other parent tips visit Community Coalition for Healthy Youth on the web at: http://www.healthyyouth.org/practical_tips.php#events

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Monthly Messages are brought to you by:

The Community Coalition for Healthy Youth

Each monthly message is provided by coalition board members. If you have further questions or comments about this message or would like information on how to become involved with the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth, please email ahendrix@tompkins-co.org

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$Description: C:\Users\KMBENN~1\AppData\Local\Temp\XPgrpwise\51DAED43countyDOcountyPO100130646B12620F1\IMAGE_1.gif$ Community Coalition for Healthy Youth

320 W. State/MLK Jr. Street

Ithaca NY 14850