How to Keep Your Teen Safe on Spring Break
You Can Have Peace of Mind Without Ruining the Fun
Don't let your teen go anywhere until you've developed a safety plan.
— Alexis A. Moore, crime prevention expert
Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun and relaxation for students, a well-deserved vacation from the rigors of school and chores. Unfortunately for some teens and their parents, spring break can become a nightmare.
Alcohol and drug abuse are often where the trouble starts. Eighty-three percent of college students say spring break trips involve more drinking than what occurs on college campuses, according to a 2006 American Medical Association poll. And 74 percent said spring break trips result in increased sexual activity, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Increased crime rates are another problem. The "Panama City News Herald" reported that, in the first three weeks of March 2010, police in Panama City Beach, Florida, arrested 1,045 people, almost half of them for underage drinking. Spring break can be especially dangerous for females, with rape and sexual assault rates spiking each March in places like Daytona Beach, where "The Daytona Beach News-Journal" noted six reported rapes in just the first week of spring break 2010.
With statistics like these, it's no wonder many parents say no to spring break trips. But if your teen is begging for one, there are things you can do to ensure she returns home in one piece.
Consider a Chaperone
Chaperoned spring break trips are the best way to ensure your child has a safe experience -- especially if she has broken your trust or shown poor judgment in the past.
"If the teen has been a knucklehead the 365 days prior to spring break, what makes you think that they will wake up on the morning of spring break and be brain surgeons?" said Dr. John Mayer, clinical psychologist and author of "Family Fit: Find Your Balance."
Many companies offer supervised trips for students, and some parents go so far as to hire chaperones to go along. You might consider these options if they're within your budget. If they're not, you must act as the chaperone by preparing your teen before the trip and monitoring her activities during her stay. This is crucial not only to keep your teen safe but also to avoid legal troubles for yourself.
"The new spirit of the courts is to make parents responsible for their children's behavior," Mayer said. This means if your underage child breaks the law, you could be held criminally liable.
"Don't try to be a cool parent," Mayer said. "Being cool doesn't mean encouraging your child and their friends to drink or act out sexually. Don't support negative behaviors."
Have a Safety Plan
Whether the trip is chaperoned or not, "Don't let your teen go anywhere until you've developed a safety plan," said Alexis A. Moore, founder of the crime victims' advocacy group Survivors in Action. Moore is also an author and contributor to more than 10 law enforcement training manuals, textbooks and nonfiction books, including "A Parent's Guide to Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying."
Moore suggests you develop the plan together with your teen and talk about it frequently. "Put it down on paper, have the teen agree to the terms and sign it no different than a contract," she said. "Have provisions for what will happen if the teen violates the terms of the agreement."
Help Make the Arrangements and Do Your Research
Do your homework. "Eagerly help with reservations and arrangements," Mayer said. "If you're involved in the planning, then you're more in control."
Collect contact information for the hotel or resort, the chaperones and friends who are traveling with your teen, the local authorities and the nearest hospital. If he's traveling out of the country, know the phone number and location of the nearest U.S. Embassy.
Find out everything you can about where he's going: Where are the high-crime areas? What areas or establishments should be avoided? What are the laws regarding alcohol and drug use? What should you do if he is arrested? If there's a language barrier, who can act as your translator? Learn as much as you can because the more you know ahead of time, the quicker you can act if something unexpected happens.
Mayer suggests you coordinate with other parents whose kids are going on the trip so it's a team effort.
Have a Sit-Down
Talk with your teen about the potential hazards of spring break trips.
"Danger can be anywhere, even in a five-star resort," Moore said. "Get real with the teen about the seriousness of the situation and their safety plan."
Moore suggests watching some related programming with your teen. "There are documentaries and awareness programs that have aired on cable and PBS stations depicting spring break horror stories," she said. "Parents should key in these search terms online and watch the shows and media reports with the teen to gain some perspective."
Ask your teen what she thinks the spring breakers who were depicted did wrong and how she would act under similar circumstances. Have her write her safety promises on the plan contract. These promises may include phrases such as "I will not separate from my friends and go off with people I don't know"; "If I accidentally get separated from my friends, we will meet back at the hotel room"; and "I will not get into a car with a drunk driver."
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Add rules to the safety plan about how and when the teen will keep in contact with you. Agree on regular intervals each day for her to call and text you to check in.
Moore says most resorts have Wi-Fi, "so there is absolutely no excuse not to have regularly scheduled video chats to see the whites of their eyes and discuss the day."
If your teen misses a scheduled communication, spring into action, calling every number you have until you reach her. Also, monitor her bank or credit card activity so you know exactly where she's going. "After all, you're probably paying for it, so you have a right to say how your money is spent," Mayer said.
Use Hotel Staff
Moore suggests you connect with staff at the hotel to find out what's going on in your teen's room. "You'd be amazed at how many hotel staff members will accommodate a parent's request for information," she said. Call and speak with the hotel manager on the first day just to introduce yourself and touch base.
Keep the Faith
Sometimes, no matter what you do, bad things happen. Don't spend the week pulling your hair out and ruining what is supposed to be a good time for your teen. Do your homework, get him actively involved in the safety plan, keep in touch and let him enjoy the vacation.
"Be generous if they've earned it," Mayer said. "This is a great time to reward them for good behavior."
- Photo Credit Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images
