In a week or two your child will enter Christmas Break and are you ready? With two to three weeks on their hands your teen will have plenty of time, without studies, to be entertained or entertain others. Here are a few tips to help your holiday with your child be a successful one, as well as a safe one for them.

Know their friends. If you know your child’s friends you’ll have a better idea of who they’re hanging out with over the break, but do you know their friend’s character? Knowing their friends isn’t the same as knowing their character. This takes time and requires building a relationship so they are familiar with you as well. When they know your character they’ll also know how you will react to a variety of situations that come your way. If you are in the early phase of knowing their friends you may want to have most activities take place at your home so supervision doesn’t become an issue. When your child goes out with his or her friends you’ll also want to make sure you have their cell numbers as well. Never trust that your child’s phone is always going to be answered, powered on or have full battery power. Having alternative numbers will give you peace of mind.

Know their friends families. Meeting the parents of your child’s friends creates an accountability circle which will hopefully keep your child safe over the break. As a parent you have the right to call other parents to inquire about parties, activities and just find your child when they don’t answer their phone. These relationships are invaluable and you’ll find out which families have the same moral code that your does. It’s best to not think that everyone raises their child in the same way that you do. Don’t be caught by surprise.

Help your teen plan activities. Most teens fall into a rut when they are planning their activities. If you don’t want your child to believe that parties are the only thing happening you need to create of list of alternatives. Depending on where you live alternatives can be anything from bowling to ice skating to broom ball or ice blocking. Be creative and make sure that if they are at another teen’s home that it is well supervised regardless if they are freshmen or seniors in high school.

Include them in Christmas preparations. Many teens want to be a part of the family experience and, even though they may resist, will help with any chores you require of them. They want to be needed and giving them projects includes them in making sure the festivities associated with the holiday come off well. Don’t lose your patience when they don’t fulfill their projects instantaneously. Remember, they’re teens.

Keep your sense of humor over their break, enjoy your short time with them as they grow up fast, and build lasting memories of a safe and successful Christmas Break.

Leslie Bogar, MS Ed., is the Dean of Students at a College Preparatory High School in the Denver Metro area. She has written articles for a variety of webzines and periodicals and has spoken on the topic of youth culture at various parent venues. Leslie has been in education for over 20 years and raised three teens of her own.

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Tags: activities, cell phones, Christmas Break, families, friends, parents, Parties, teen