An appropriate time for teenagers to come home?

Question

What is the appropriate time that a 15 year old boy should be in at?My son says all his friends have to be in at 11pm and he thinks its terrible that he is treated like a baby and that he has to come in weekdays at 9pm and weekends at 10pm. Somebody help!

Answer 1

I think 9.30 during the week, and 10.30 at the weekend. It is hard to keep a balance, he is at a vulnerable age, you have to be careful, you don`t want him being called a baby, but you don`t want him on the streets late at night. A tiny compromise might help, good luck!! It is hard being the parent of a teenager, i`ve been there, and still am with my daughter, they don`t come with instructions do they? Best of luck!!

Answer 2

For a 15 y-o I'd go with 10pm sunday-thursday and 11pm friday-saturday.

Obviously make clear that these are the LATEST times he has to be back by and cut half an hour off the time for a weeks duration every time he goes beyond that (unless he's let you know a valid reason e.g. has rung you up saying "going to be late, the bus has broken down").

So if he's late once in a week, he has to be back by 9:30 or 10:30 and then that goes back to 10 and 11 once the week is up. If he's late twice in a week it would go to 9 and 10 o'clock etc....and you could even add a week on to the time that is for.

Answer 3

I don't think he has any business being out on weekdays past supper time. He should be spending his weekdays at home with the family and doing home work. As for weekends he should be happy, I had to be home by 9 and that was only if I was actually allowed to go some where. At 15 he shouldn't be allowed to just be out and about to come home at a certain time. You should know where he is and approve of the places he is allowed to go.

Answer 4

Well, a deputy sheriff told me once that kids who are out late at night are more than likely up to no good. Now, I don't necessarily agree with that statement because there are some decent kids out there, but I'd err on the side of caution. Keep setting the boundaries for your son, one day he will appreciate it. I'd hate to see a good kid get mixed up with the bad crowd because usually it's the good one that takes the fall when something happens. Oh, and he is actually fortunate...my teenager isn't allowed out during the weekdays because of school. He has to come straight home after football practice and his curfew on weekends is 10:00. He says I'm too overprotective and that I should lighten up but I would rather have him safe than sorry. Good luck!

Answer 5

Depends on where is going and how he intends getting home. If he has got a party or something to go to and you cn pick him up then later than 11pm is okay but if he's just hanging round the streets I think 9 to 10pm is far late enough. It seems to be the ones who are let out very late with nowhere to go that are the ones who often end up in trouble through boredom.

Answer 6

I think you could be a bit more leinient with him i'd say 9:30 weekdays and maybe even half 10 quarter to 11 on weekends i totally understand where youre coming from wanting him in early but hes a big boy now you have to let him live a little.

Good Luck.x

Answer 7

whats so important that he has to be out till 11, that he cant do by 9? although the city may have a curfew, thats your child and your rules. thats the problem with parents these days(not saying you) what are most parents getting ready to do by 11? they are likely in bed or getting ready for work the next day. should not your child be doing the same thing and getting ready for school. if he is staying out until 11 by the time he gets home and settled and ready for bed its midnight. then he has to get up early to get ready for school. i think he should be home by 9 on weekdays and on fridays and saturdays no later than 1030. and lets not forget, he is only 15 years old. between the ages of 17 and 18 he should be allowed to stay out longer. what is he in like 9th grade? keep the rules you got mom.

Answer 8

I believe it has to do with the responsibly of your son. And how long you would like to stay up to wait for him. During the week I would like my kids stay out till 10pm. And during the weekend it would be around midnight. And if they didn't come home at the time they should be I would punish them. But not that week/weekend but the next time they wanted to go out with there friends. Yes, I would have to write the day of punishment or the times they were late. but after the first time of being late it didn't happen again. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Have him earn your trust. Or, make exceptions on an as needed basis. If you are flexible it won't be as big of an issue, and he sould be willing to coperate on the days that he doesn't have something big to do. If he's got nothing to do and he's just out roaming around until 11, then he's more likey to get into trouble. If he's at a concert until 11 then he'll come right home and hopefully avoid trouble. The other thing is to let him have people over until 11 so that way he can still be with his friends, but he's still supervised. My dad always said it takes 2 things to get intot trouble, desire and oppertunity. He said that he can't control desire but he can control oppertunity. Explain the reasons for your rules, and be willing to compramise in special situations.

Answer 10

I always had to be in bed by 9 pm growing up. All five of us kids did. And it's only been six years since I left the house. I think that's plenty reasonable. Nothing's open after 9 or 10 pm, so the only things he'd be able to do after that are things that could get him in trouble, anyway. Babies are in bed by 7, kids are in bed by 8, he's got a whole 2 hours on them, so he should be happy or just get over it. He can stay out later for his prom in a few years, but there's no reason to stay out later than that on a school night, or he'll only be tired and miserable at school the next day.