Throw An After-prom Party, So You Know Where Your Kids Are

The hours after high school proms are notorious for kids getting into trouble. Learn how to throw your own after-prom party so you can supervise your kids while they have fun.

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Peer pressure runs high at events like an after-prom party. Even the best of teenagers can get confused or carried away, ending up in situations they’re not really ready for.

One way to head these problems off at the pass is for parents to set up an after-prom party for the kids. This lets the kids get rowdy with some supervision.

But it has another interesting effect, and that’s to give kids an excuse to bow out of activities they may be feeling pressured to join in but really don’t even want to. “I can’t – I’ve gotta go to this party Jane’s parents set up, or my parents will ground me!”

And being somewhere cool without even the choice to drink allows kids to avoid drinking without feeling like they’ll lose face with peers.

After-prom parties can be a few kids doing something fun in one family’s basement, or a large scale party including hundreds. Not all of these tips will apply in every case, but you can use your own judgment there.

Sounds too good to be true? Here’s how you pull it off:

Setting up a tempting after-prom party

The trick is to make your after-prom party really tempting to kids. That means it’s got to afford them some fun they can’t get elsewhere.

Rule No. 1: Work with other parents

Get help from parents in your kids’ peer groups so everyone can share the expense and the burden of getting everything together. This also reduces the chances other parents will throw tempting parties that might not be as well-supervised as yours.

Some parents see their kids’ prom as a chance to relive their youthful days – or get to have the prom they never went to themselves – and may throw after parties that create the very sort of atmosphere you’re hoping to help your kids avoid.

By getting those parents involved with one big neighborhood party, they get to have their vicarious glory days and you get to know where your kids are.

Rule No. 2: Make it cool

The party needs to have enough cool stuff going on so that kids don’t feel tempted to sneak off to the “real party” that’s going on at some hotel room downtown. Talk to your kids and their friends about what they’d like. Get them on board.

Once they decide your party is going to have the cool factor over all the others, you’re golden. Activities for the part will vary greatly, depending where you are and what’s available to you, and how big the party’s going to be.

Rent Limos

Renting limos to chauffeur the kids from the prom back to the party. This is not as expensive as it sounds, particularly if you’re sharing the burden with other parents.

Most kids love the idea of riding in a limo, and this also helps ensure they’ll end up where you want them to be.

Hire a Deejay

Having a deejay at the party can make it the place to be for kids.

Hire a band

Hire one of your high school’s teenage rock bands to play the party. You’d be surprised how tempting that will be to many kids.

Raffle

Have a raffle with cool prizes donated by local businesses. (You may also convince local businesses to donate some cash or other valuable stuff, like food or free rented tables, to the party itself, in exchange for putting up some advertising banners around the party.)

NOTE: Raffles are actually illegal in a few states in the US (I know, right?). Fortunately there are some great alternatives to raffles that could be a lot of fun.

 Karoke

Rent karoke equipment for the party. This is a fun activity for kids to enjoy if you get some good songs to sing along with.

Rent a Yacht

This is not cheap, but it sure is impressive to sail a party around a harbor while serving food and beverages and generally having a blast. And it’s a great way to make sure none of the kids sneak off early.

You may be able to get a deal if you can find a yachting company that sees this as a chance for good publicity.

Rent a Nightclub

Sometimes local nightclubs will let you rent them out for the evening for a reasonable price. That’s a pretty tempting carrot to dangle in front of underage kids.

The Casino

You may be able to rent out a local casino. If not, you can set up your own mini-casino, and let kids exchange their “winning” chips for prizes donated by local businesses.

Horror Movies

Rent a really big screen TV and do popcorn and horror movies. This is a low key event, but it can be a lot of fun.

Comedian

Hire some local stand-up comedians to keep everybody entertained.

Beach Party

A beach party with a cookout can go down surprisingly well with kids, though you’ll need to take some extra steps to make sure nobody wanders off.

Virtual Reality Competition

Get a big screen, hook it up to the internet, and play virtual reality games against a team from a rival schools.

Local Restaurant

You could rent out a local restaurant or hotel banquet room.

Outdoor Movie Night

Set up a projector and screen in the backyard for a cozy movie night under the stars. Provide blankets, pillows, and popcorn for a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

Escape Room Challenge

Transform different rooms into themed escape rooms. Divide guests into teams and see who can solve the puzzles and escape first.

Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party

Use blacklights and provide glow sticks, bracelets, and paint for a vibrant and energetic dance party experience.

DIY Sundae Bar

Set up a station with various ice cream flavors, toppings, and sauces. Let the attendees create their own delicious sundaes.

Photo Booth Extravaganza

Create a photo booth with props and backdrops. It’s a great way for attendees to capture memories from the night.

Outdoor Bonfire

If you have outdoor space, consider having a bonfire. Provide marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for a DIY s’mores station.

Mocktail Mixology Bar

Create a non-alcoholic mixology bar with a variety of juices, sodas, and garnishes. Let the attendees experiment with creating their own signature drinks.

Carnival Games and Prizes

Set up classic carnival games like ring toss, balloon darts, and a bean bag toss. Award prizes to those who excel in the games.

DIY Craft Station

Provide art supplies and set up a crafting station where guests can create their own keepsakes from the night.

Fortune Teller Booth:

Hire a fortune teller or set up a DIY booth with fun predictions and insights for the attendees.

Safety and supervision

All this is great: you’ve set up a party your kids are actually looking forward to. No worries, right? Close, but there are a few more details to consider:

• Have enough chaperones to make sure no kids leave early or sneaks outside to get into trouble.
• Set up a clear policy of no ins and outs – once kids arrive, they stay until the party is over, unless their parents arrive to take them home earlier.
• Make it clear to parents that if their kids are caught using or possessing alcohol or drugs, the parents will be asked to come fetch their kids home immediately. While your main legal duty is simply not to serve alcohol or illegal substances to kids, a zero-tolerance policy is important both for discouraging substance abuse and to protect you legally in case someone somehow does get drunk (kids can be sneaky, you know that) and someone calls the police about it.
• Depending how big this party is, you may want to have parents of attending kids sign waivers that state they realize the point of the party is to keep kids out of trouble, but you cannot guarantee kids’ safety.

With some event planning, you can set up a great party that will help you worry less and give your kids memories they’ll cherish.