12 Things Parents Should Do to Help Their Teen Have a Great Homecoming

Even if they always are expected to be home by 10 p.m., homecoming is a special event that likely warrants an extension. Come up with the curfew together so they have ownership over the time, and therefore are more likely to follow it.

Some homecoming dances are more elaborate and formal than others. While my personal homecoming dance happened about five minutes after the game, meaning everyone was in jeans, others require a dressier look. Know what to expect and review the rules with your teen before hand.

As a fun bonding moment, go with them to pick out their outfits. If you're initially getting push back, remind them that they need someone to take photos to see how they will look from a distance, since selfies can only get you so far.

Homecoming isn't just about the dance, it's also about the football game! Even if your teen doesn't care about sports, going to a game can still be a lot of fun with their friends. Since there are often parades and special events, this makes the homecoming experience even richer.

While it's natural to want to get dressed up with an amazing pair of high heels, considering the amount of dancing being done (or standing around pointing out crushes), it might be best to wear flats. At the very least, encourage them to bring a pair of shoes they can change into.

Telling a teenager to text you is great and all, but they're unlikely to remember with such vague instructions. Have distinct check-in times (for example, when they arrive and when the dance is over), that way they'll be more likely to remember to contact you.

Even if their favorite songs aren't what's being played or popular, they deserve to hear them, too. The school should represent everyone, so encourage them to pick some songs they want to hear.

If they're driving to the dance, showing up late could mean the parking lot is full and that there's a long line to get in, which would cut into their party time. Arriving on time or even a little early will allow them to scope out a good table and hit up the food table before everyone else steals all of the chips.

Despite having high-quality cameras on their phones, there's still something special about a photo booth or a photographer. While they might be eager to get the photos done or not do them at all, encourage them to participate so they'll have a memory of their night they can always keep and look back on.

Even if they're going with a date, encourage them to still go as a group or make time for their friends. Boyfriends and girlfriends will likely not be around years from now, but close friends will always be there.

Whatever the latest dance trend is, it doesn't hurt to know it ahead of time. Take it from someone who wishes YouTube had been a thing in school, if only so I didn't have to fumble my way through the Macarena and the Cha-Cha Slide.

While you don't have to have a full-blown sex talk with them, you should openly talk about school dances, peer pressure to be intimate, and their power to always say no and not doing anything they aren't comfortable with. Make sure you have your phone on you in case they call and need anything, and let them know that you can and will come and get them at any time if they're uncomfortable with anything.