It won’t be long before girls decked out in beautiful dresses and their dates in tuxes that match arrive at area restaurants and you’ll probably say to yourself, “It must be prom season.”

Thousands of young couples are anticipating an incredible prom night....dinner with friends, dancing and just hanging out having a good time.  Did you know in years past on average teens spent $800 to $1,500 on prom night?  The idea of spending that much on prom this year might make a lot of parents break out in a cold sweat.  But, the reality is there are probably a lot of teens who are assuming their parents will foot the bill for the entire prom package. 

Even if you would have considered doing that in the past, the prom experience could be a great teachable moment when it comes to managing money.  How about encouraging your teen to be creative this year in their prom planning?  Who says that in order for the night to be special you have to rent a limo, buy an expensive dress, rent the latest tux and go to a pricy restaurant?  This is the year for prom practical. 

If you haven’t had a conversation with your teen about prom budget expectations, now might be a good time.  Even if you have already splurged in some areas, like on the dress, there are plenty of great ways to save and still have a terrific time.  Here are a few suggestions:

Borrow a dress or purchase one and make it your own – no one would have a clue unless you told them that you borrowed a dress.  Thrift stores have lots of good deals on formal dresses or you could purchase a dress for a reasonable price and take it to a seamstress to add a decorative appliqué.

Plan a fancy dinner at your house – get a group together, do the grocery shopping yourself and hire a chef to cook your meal.

Rent a less expensive tux or better yet wear a nice suit – Most people will never notice the difference.

Now that you have thought about how to protect your wallet, lets talk about protecting your teen from the potential dangers of prom night.

There are a lot of people who do crazy things on prom night.  Is your teen prepared to deal with the pressure to drink, rent a hotel room or to have sex?  The reality is that prom night can be dangerous.  Parents need to know what their teens are planning, who they will be with and where they will be going.  Don’t assume anything.

Many parents deem prom night as a “rite of passage” for their teen allowing them to bend the rules just for that night.  In an effort to discourage drinking and driving, some parents even throw “after prom parties” in their home providing food and alcohol and requiring a commitment from the teens that they will turn over their keys.  While you want your teen to have a good time as he/she celebrates, as the parent, it is critical to help them keep their heads together and make good choices.  

Parents may want to think twice about the prom parties they throw for their teens.  A midnight breakfast is a great idea, but a parent who chooses to have a party at their house where minors are drinking alcohol needs to also consider the consequences.  If law enforcement shows up at that party, teens can be charged with drinking under age and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days on probation and the loss of their license for a year.   Parents can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in the Hamilton County workhouse or probation for that amount of time.  These consequences would be minor compared to having to live with the loss of a life due to teenage drinking.  Law enforcement takes the safety of our young people very seriously.  Parents have been charged with this offense in the past.

Don’t underestimate the pressure your teen may be facing and talk with him/her before prom night about expectations for the evening:

• Know the friends that your teen will be with at and after the prom.
• If they are going to a friend’s house after the prom, make sure you know the parents and whether they share your values.
• Talk about how hard it can be to make a good decision when you are in a crowd.  For example, if you let someone who you know is drunk or you should have known is drunk, drive your car, you can be charged with DUI by consent.
• Give them a way out.  Encourage them to call you if they find themselves in a compromising situation.
• Let your teen know that you trust them and make sure they understand the expectations that you have for prom night.
• Most importantly, parents need to make sure their teens know that they love them.  One of the best ways to show this is to set limits and help them understand that the limits are intended to make sure that the best laid plans for a good time on prom night are played out to the fullest in a safe environment.

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