Curfews for teens: should they be enforced? Curfews for teenagers are usually controversial topics. In order to protect their teens, parents impose curfews, and teens often feel that this is an unfair restriction. State and local curfews are even more controversial because it is not only teenagers who disagree with them, but also many adults.
Teen Curfews Are a Traditional Rite of Passage
Curfews for teenagers have been around for centuries as adults have attempted to keep them safe. When their parents told them they had to be home at a specific time, most adults can remember being annoyed.
For violating a curfew, many adults were also “grounded for life.” Having to adhere to a curfew is one of the first ways that many people were taught to handle the responsibilities that come with independence.
Why Teenager Curfews Are Necessary
There are many reasons why parents impose curfews on their teenagers. Firstly, they care about their teen and want them to be safe. Both morally and legally, parents are responsible for keeping their children safe and monitoring their activities.
Additionally, knowing when to expect a teenager to return home is a matter of social courtesy. In order to sleep well, parents need to know when their children will return home.
Safety
In most cases, parents are not concerned with teenagers’ behavior, but rather with the behavior of others. As an example, driving home at 11:00 p.m. tends to be safer than driving home at 2:00 a.m., after bars close and more people drive under the influence. While trying to make their way home, drunk drivers pose a life-threatening hazard.
Having a curfew can also help a teen leave an unsafe or unpleasant situation gracefully. It’s nice to have a reason to leave sometimes. Knowing when their teenager will return home is also important for parents.
In the event that a parent does not expect their child home at a certain time, they have no way of knowing if their child needs help or if they are in trouble. Every member of the family should let someone know where they are going and when they will return. As a result, there is no need to worry and the level of safety increases.
Learning Responsibility
The process of growing up is a long one. A crucial part of that process is adhering to social rules. Teenagers are becoming young adults who need and should have the freedom to explore life during the teen years. In order to do this learning, you must create a safe environment.
In addition to being aware of the natural consequences of not following rules, teens should also be aware of the consequences imposed by their parents. It is much less damaging to lose phone or computer privileges than to spend time behind bars.
In order to become a responsible young adult, teenagers need a stable environment to learn and practice concepts.
It’s the Law
Curfew laws in some communities are a reason for imposing a teenager curfew. It is quite time-consuming and expensive to prosecute curfew violations. A parent is held responsible for their child’s behavior, and they are required to appear in court, pay heavy fines, and sometimes attend classes or perform community service with them.
Several city council meetings discuss the efficacy of curfews in preventing crime, but if the law is in place, it will be enforced.
Time Management
Having a curfew teaches teens time management and planning. Teenagers have to take into account the distance between their destination, the length of time they can spend there, and the amount of time it will take them to get back home when they have curfews.
As they reach adulthood and have to manage traffic, keep track of schedules, and be on time for classes, appointments, and their jobs, this skill will certainly come in handy.
Building Trust
Families are responsible for making sure their teens get home safely until they turn 18 or live on their own. Curfews provide parents with some peace of mind when it comes to the wellbeing of their children.
When a parent knows when their child will be home, they can rest a bit easier knowing that the relationship is mutually trusting. When a teen follows his or her curfew consistently, the relationship between him or her and their parents can remain open and trusting.
A Spoonful of Sugar
It is important for parents to make sure their teens understand why curfews are in place and what the consequences will be if they break them. The curfews for different activities should be negotiated by teens, and they should understand that being trustworthy and mature earns them independence.
By rewarding responsible behavior, parents will experience less resistance to enforcing rules. The teen won’t turn cartwheels when a curfew is imposed, but understanding the rules will make following them easier.