Paris: How to keep your graduation party safe

So while they are still home ... we wipe away the tears and celebrate! 

Let the celebration begin with joy and elation for the accomplishments, but let the party end safely with happy memories for a lifetime. The last thing you want is to follow up your kid’s graduation party with a funeral or court date. 

Please take into consideration the following tips to throw a safe graduation party!

1. Plan: Plan out your party with your child. Agree upon the date, start and end time, activities, food and beverages, and who will attend. “Free-for-alls” usually begin with an open-ended social media shout-out. Avoid this by sending or handing out actual paper invitations and avoiding virtual invitation blasts. Let your party be the exclusive “invitation-only” event and your guests will feel really special!

2. Discuss expectations: Have a conversation with your child about what you expect and don’t expect at the party. Do not assume your child knows the rules or how to navigate tricky situations with peers. Don’t expect your child to try drugs or alcohol as part of normal development. The fact is, it’s normal for your child to model your behavior, and if you are modeling healthy and positive choices, so will they! Do not allow drugs, alcohol, smoking or any other illegal or harmful substances. Talk about the house rules, too. Things like no couples in bedrooms with doors closed, or no friends in dad’s office.  

3. Take no chances: Before the party, lock up any weapons, prescription drugs and alcohol that may be in your home. 

4. Meet and greet: The best way to keep a handle on the party is to know the people attending. Do not allow strangers to the party. If your child is inviting friends you don’t know, meet and greet them at the door. If their parents drop them off, meet the parents, too.

5. Stay: Always make sure there is adult supervision at the party. You can have an “adults-only” space that you can hang out in. This allows you to still be present without hovering over the party-goers. 

6. Do cool stuff: That’s right: Create some cool stuff for them to do. They may say they don’t want activities, but once the party gets going, the teens will love to have fun things to do. 

Here are some activities that teens would love to do:

• Exploding watermelons: Continue to wrap rubber bands around a watermelon until the pressure explodes it (safety goggles are recommended)

• Bonfires

• Slack lines

• Plank walking

• Giant outdoor board games (paint a giant Twister game onto the grass)

• Minute-to-win-it games

• Make videos and Vines

• Selfie station

When you ask teens about these things in advance, they may resist. Once these activities are set up, and a group of teens emerges, they will want to participate and have fun! 

7. Play it safe: Have a plan for worst-case scenarios. Keep a first-aid kit handy. Be ready and willing to call other parents if a child has any issues. Call 911 in the event of an emergency or if the party gets out of control. Remember, you are responsible and liable; don’t take chances with the health or safety of your partygoers.