Why Do We Need a Teen Curfew?

Unless you grew up with very trusting and understanding parents, then you are likely to recall a time when the word curfew was a significant term in your life. As a parent, you worry about your own children while still trying to allow them some space. The curfew ensures that they still follow some rules. Parents worry about drinking, sex, drug experimentation and more. While many kids may not see the need for a curfew imposed by parents or the law, the fact remains that there are some good arguments for setting a curfew for your teen.

  1. Safety

    • The primary concern for most parents when it comes to setting a curfew is the safety of their child. While requiring your teen to be back home by a certain time will not protect them from all the potential dangers of the world, it will reduce the chances that the teen will get involved with something that could harm them. If the teen must be home by 11 p.m., she may be making plans to get home by 10 p.m. Meanwhile a child without a curfew may stay out until well past midnight, meaning there is additional opportunity to get into trouble or take part in activities such as underage drinking, drug use and being mixed up in criminal activity.

    Clear Expectations

    • Most kids want more freedom to do what they want and less direct parental involvement in all their decisions. This can be healthy, but they also need their privileges spelled out even when they reach this more mature age. Telling the teen not to stay out "too late" can be interpreted any number of ways, and he can argue that he didn't realize that 3 a.m. would be considered "too late" by your standards. If you tell him that their curfew is 11 p.m., then the expectation is clear.

    Limited Freedom

    • Teenagers want freedom from the rules set by their parents, but abandoning all rules and allowing for total freedom can have dire consequences. The fact is, teens are still children and may not make good decisions. These consequences can include taking part in foolish or dangerous activities with friends. A curfew gives teens a taste of freedom with a healthy dose of responsibility to go with it. It allows teens to strike out on their own to a degree without taking it too far.

    Lessons in Trust

    • With trust comes the responsibility. Allowing a teen to stay out until a certain time is helpful as long as it comes with a warning that violating the curfew will mean less freedom to come and go. The teen will learn firsthand that acting properly and following the rules will allow her to continue going out with friends, but blowing it could mean sitting at home while all of her friends are out having a good time.

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