How many times have you heard your teen utter these three little words? "It's so unfair!" Of course, we are talking about curfews. They are easy to set when your children are younger, but it gets harder as they mature, especially when they start driving. While teens need to be more independent, they also need boundaries and structure to show them you care, and to help keep them safe. Setting clear and fair rules with enforceable consequences is a critical part of being a good parent. Curfews not only provide that needed structure, they help teach children responsibility. A Search Institute survey of teens found that 86% of girls and 77% of boys say their parents ask where they are going and who they will be with most or all of the time.

Ten Tips on Teen Curfews:

• Have your teen participate in the discussion and setting of their curfew
• Set curfews based on the age of your child, the amount of sleep needed and your family needs
• Talk to the parents of your child's friends and stand united on a curfew time
• It may be appropriate to change the curfew for special activities
• Be clear about what is expected
• Know where they are going, who they will be with and how they are getting there and back
• Set rules about calling in, checking with you if there is a change in venue and calling well before curfew if they want to ask to stay out longer.
• Agree together on the consequences if curfew is broken
• Be consistent when enforcing consequences and use this as an opportunity to talk about responsibility
• Tell your children how much you appreciate it when they arrive on time or use incentives when they comply, e.g. extra time at an event.
• Tell your child to use the curfew as an excuse to get out of an uncomfortable situation if needed.
• Be aware of curfew laws in your town and use them for additional support

How have you handled the curfew issue with your teen?