How to Plan Prom Activities for Teens

Prom night can be one of the most exciting events of your teen's high school career, but it can also have its downside. Unsupervised prom celebrations may provide the opportunity for risky behavior such as underage drinking, drug use and unsafe sex. Make sure your teen has a fun, yet safe night by planning chaperoned prom activities for him and his friends.

Things You'll Need

  • Rental limousine or classic car
  • Karaoke machine
  • Mobile video game theater
  • DVDs
  • Disco ball
  • Black lights
  • Sound system with music CDs or mp3s
  • Snacks
  • Non-alcoholic beverages

Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your teen for a list of friends he plans to go to prom with or spend time with before and after the event. Contact those friends' parents to discuss ideas for safe activities. Not only can you save money by pooling your resources, but you can make sure everyone's on the same page when it comes to laying ground rules such as curfew time and a ban on alcohol.

    • 2

      Make arrangements for your teen's safe transport to and from the prom. Rent a limo or a party bus in order to ensure the services of a trained professional driver -- according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, fewer than 0.01 percent of traffic fatalities occurring between 2002 and 2011 involved stretch limousines with more than four side doors. If the cost of hiring professional transportation is prohibitive, rent or borrow a cool classic car and have one of the parents or another trusted older friend or relative dress up as a chauffeur.

    • 3

      Explore less expensive alternatives to a pre-prom restaurant dinner such as hosting a fancy dinner party at your house or the house of one of the other parents. Suggest a potluck to minimize the burden on any one family as well as adding to the fun. This can give each teen the opportunity to show off one of his or his family's special dishes. Consider a progressive dinner where guests will have an appetizer course at one house, then move on to another house for the main course and travel to yet another location for dessert.

    • 4

      Host an all-night after-prom party at your house. Rent entertainment such as a karaoke machine or a mobile video game theater if your budget permits, or go with cheaper options such as renting DVDs or hanging up a disco ball or a few black lights and blasting tunes for a retro dance party. Stock up on plenty of snacks and drinks to fuel those voracious late-night teen appetites, and whip up a big brunch to be served when the party guests finally roll out of bed the next morning...or afternoon.

    • 5

      Consider renting out a venue for a large party, splitting the cost with the other families involved. Alternatively, arrange a group outing to a late-night hot spot -- certain bowling alleys, skating rinks, laser tag arenas and even spas are open 24 hours. Some businesses even host all-night "lock-in" parties for teens, although it's best to arrange for such an event several months in advance of prom night.

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