Why do teenagers need a curfew?

"Modern" parents who say that they are friends with their teenagers and trust them to behave can sometimes be creating a situation with their teens that will come back and haunt them. An area of much discussion amongst parents and between teens and their parents is the setting of an evening, or nighttime curfew. The, so-called modern parent will airily dismiss curfews as unnecessary, arguing that their teenager will come home in good time, and if they are tired for school will learn their lesson and go to bed early the next night.

This is foolishness and the night their teen does not come home at all, or ends up in a police cell overnight, may be the wake-up call these parents need. Teenagers need boundaries; they do not want parents who let them do whatever they fancy. Teens whose parents have a laissez-faire attitude, actually feel that their parents do not truly care about them. Parents need to remember that they are not there to be friends with their teens, they are there to guide them, love them and show them discipline and right and wrong. It may be simplistic to say, but morals and ethics are not acquired by some form of osmosis, they need to be modeled and learned.

It is the parent's job to ensure that teenagers are set on the right road to becoming responsible and decent adults. Part of that job involves keeping the teenager safe, and any law enforcement officer will tell you that the streets of any town or city become more dangerous as the night goes on.

The later your teenager stays out the more likely they are to get into trouble. Imposing a curfew on your child needs to be a discussion you have with them as soon as they are old enough to go out in the evening without you. This will include going round to a friend's house after school to study, or going to the library or to a sports or evening club.

Whatever time is set as a curfew, it may be increased as the teenager gets older, or for special occasions, such as a prom. It is an important matter to discuss with the teenager, but in the end, it is the parent who sets and enforces the curfew. If parents take into account travelling time, they can set a curfew that ensures a teen does not stray too far from home.

If the curfew is broken, then sanctions must be imposed; all teens will test their parents to see if they really mean it, and it is crucial that the parents show they mean business and that the teen will forfeit privileges for having broken the rules. Teenagers need rules; they need to feel that parents care enough to set boundaries to keep them safe.