Only 15 year olds (or parents of 15 year olds)... Curfew?

Question

What do you think is a reasonable time for a 15 year old to be home at in the summer?

Chrystallic (or whatever your name is)

Why would it be any different for a girl then a boy. Wow, is that ever unreasonable!

So far im disapointed in most of these answers. But I asked the question and you gave your opinions so I cant be mad.

I think 9 or 10 is too early... you have to give your children a bit of trust. by 10 it's just getting dark. I think a few hours after dark isnt bad.
But what bugged me the most was people saying guys shoudl stay out longer. And that makes sence to you how?? That's discrimanation in my books. But just so you know.. In my town guys are more likely to get into the trouble. But meh.. your opinions I guess..

Answer 1

summer 11:00 pm during the week and 12:30 am on week ends
my son is 16 years old and that's his curfew..
during school 9:30 pm on week days and 11:00 pm on week ends

Answer 2

10

Answer 3

You don't say where you live, or if your city has a curfew law. Ours does. Anyone under the age of 17 is prohibited from being out without a parent after 11:00pm. Due to this, my daughter has to be home by 10:30pm. That way, if there is an emergency or unexpected delay, she can still call me and I can get to her or she can get home before curfew regulations.


Her curfew wasn't always this generous. Curfew times are based on trust, in our house. Trust is built through honesty and responsibility, on her part. She knows that if she tells me she's going to "A's" house and I see "A" at the store or she happens to call the house, she is not only going to get grounded for lying, but she is going to loose my trust and trust must be built again, from ground zero. Sure, when she was younger, she tried to get over on me a few times. She now knows that eventually, she will get found out and that ultimately, she will be the one who suffers. I believe in natural consequences. I set the rules (it's my house), I explain the rules, and I explain the consequences for breaking the rules. She is aware that if she makes a poor decision, the results are her own doing.

This may sound harsh, but life is harsh. Bosses, spouses, children, policemen, co-workers, etc. expect us to follow the rules and be responsible. Teens years are where we get our training to be responsible adults.

You are still a child at 15. Even though you are developing your own ideas, feelings, attitudes, tastes, and preferences, you are still legally the responsibility of your parents. They are responsible for your safety, as well as for anything you may do.

Most malls, theaters, and other safe venues for pre-driving teens are closed by 10:00-10:30pm. Let's face it, the later the hour, the more opportunity there is to get into trouble.

By the way, my daughter is 17, now. Guess when her curfew is? It's 11:00pm. I have a son who is 27. He no longer has a curfew, but he is still expected to let me know where he will be and a general return time. He's expected to call if it changes. Why? Common courtesy. Something the world, and especially the current generation, knows little about, anymore. Just because you get older, doesn't mean your folks love you any less or worry less about you. It's a cruel old world out there, and anything can happen. Boys aren't any safer than girls.

Answer 4

I am 45 and the mother of a 23, 17 and 16 yr old. A reasonable time always depends on the event involved. If my kids are going to a movie at 9PM, I expect them home shortly after the movie unless they call, or let me know ahead of time that they will be going to McDonald's or something of that nature afterwards. If you are 15, I assume you are being driven by parents or an older teen. If it's an older teen, many states have limits about what time teenagers can drive until - for instance, here in Connecticut, if you are under 18 you cannot be on the road after midnight.

It sounds like your parents may be unsure of where you are when you are out. Perhaps if you discuss with them when and where you will be somewhere, that would ease their minds.

If my 16 yr old son said, "I'm going to a movie at 9PM and then afterwards we're going to drive around and see what's going on," that would not be acceptable. Parents just want to know that you are safe. And you should always call if you are going to be late. If you do that, they will take that as a sign of responsibility and may give you a little more leeway on that annoying curfew.

Answer 5

My mom always let me set my own curfew each night I went out.
She'd say: 'Where are you going & with who?'
I'd tell her the plan.
She'd say: 'When will you be back?'
I'd give her an estimate (usually 30-45 minutes after when I really thought I could be back by). That way I was always early.
As long as I said something reasonable she said okay. I was never late. I set my own boundaries so I felt like they were fair so I never tried to test the limits, and I had to take responsibility for setting and keep it so if I was late I had no one to blame but myself (which never happened). On a typical night I would say 10 or 11 and be off.
But if there was a late movie or important party I would say 1am and she'd give me that mom look and I'd say 12:30. She would ask me why I felt like I should be out that late and I would tell her why (best friend's b-day type things) and 12:30 it was. But I knew to reserve those late nights for special occasions and always be on time so my mom could trust me to keep this system in tact.
I am very self monitoring and all my friends thought I was very lucky to have a cool mom. But she was cool because she could trust me.
Good luck w/ your curfew.

Answer 6

10 no later than 10:30. When your home you can stay in front of the house until 12. My Son is 14 and he tries to stay out late. The only time he is able to stay down the street until 11 is when is cousin is with him. But he knows he has to be home and in front of the house by 10:30.

Answer 7

11 for a boy 10 for a girl

Answer 8

No later than 10.

Answer 9

11:30

Answer 10

David, do you not mean 1 am for 17 yrs...i would agree that girls should have to come home before boys, prolly girls around 11...boys maybe midnight...it is true, sorry you can't sue your parents for being born a certain gender...i'm sure someone will eventually try...they sued mcdonalds for being fat...but girls can get pregnant and boys can't...just like they say in the movies and just like in real life...i represent the 15 year old group, not the parent group

Answer 11

10 o clock....i'm 19 and my sister is 15...personally, i really don't like her being out past sunset cuz its dark...but you have to let go...10 is good because anything later than that is kind of inappropriate for them because 15 is still young...there's a lot of crazy people out in this world, drunks, drug addicts, etc...they say that the freaks come out at night, and this is said for a reason!...if i can't walk around by myself 10 at night, then a 15 year old shouldn't whether if they're alone or with a group...its a safety reason