Teen parties Careful planning is essential for any teen party. Sit down with your teen to discuss what they expect for their party, and what you find acceptable. Be prepared for some give and take. Below we take you through the main issues you will need to consider together.

In this article

Venue Guest list Running time Neighbours

Your things Music Food Drink

Smoking and drugs Supervision Getting home After the party

Is your home big enough to hold a group of your daughter's friends? Is there space for dancing? Will any areas of your home be off limits? Will partygoers arrive through areas shared by you and your neighbours? For a large party, such as an 18th birthday, you may want to hire a venue such as a community hall.

Ask your daughter/son to draw up a list of people to invite; try to limit this to around 10 to 30 people. (Once numbers get over 30, a party can be very hard to control.) It's best to post invitations. Make sure she knows not to send invites by email as these can be easily forwarded on and numbers may skyrocket. Note down who will be attending and check this list when each person arrives.

Agree on a reasonable start and end time for the party. Consider issues such as noise and how guests will get home. Ask your teen to let each guest know that the party will definitely come to a close at the agreed time.

Neighbours who have been 'kept in the loop' will be less likely to overreact at the sight of teens converging at your place

Pre-warn your neighbours and let them know what time the party will end. Neighbours who have been 'kept in the loop' will be less likely to overreact at the sight of teens converging at your place, and less likely to complain.

Put aside breakable items and valuables before the guests arrive.

This should be exclusively the domain of your teen and their friends. So, even if you find Eminem's music hideously irritating, for this night only you may have to hear his albums over and over! Do set a limit for how loud the music can be, and a definite time for when it must stop. Check with your local council if there is a by-law governing noise in your area.

Be sure to serve plenty of food. Discuss with your daughter/son what party snacks they would like and get them to help you prepare it. Visit BBC Food (see links below) for some recipe ideas.

Offer a wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks, such as fizzy drinks, juice and water. You could also make a large bowl of non-alcolholic punch. Your teen may want to drink alcohol at the party. This is a tricky issue, and you should be aware that it is illegal in the UK to supply under-18s with alcohol. If you decide to allow alcohol, consider providing it yourself and using a responsible adult as barperson - this way you can control what and how much is drunk. Whatever you decide, make it very clear to your child and guests what is allowed and what is not. Don't allow guests to bring drinks to the party (even soft drinks, as they may have been spiked with alcohol).

Expect visitors to obey your house rules about smoking, and be aware of the legal issues around drugs. Visit the BBC Crime website (See Related links below) for more information. Make it clear that you won't accept illegal behaviour in your house.

You should definitely be there at all times, but this doesn't mean you have to be right in the thick of things. Keep your distance, and try to keep a watchful eye without being too obvious.

Enjoy yourself

Don't forget to have some fun yourself! You may like to invite a couple of adult friends around, who can also offer support during the party.

Safety and security

Think about setting aside a 'safe' room at the party where guests can put their coats and bags. Make sure a responsible adult keeps an eye on the room.

You may want to keep secluded areas like bedrooms off limits. Be strict about refusing party gatecrashers, and equally, don't allow people to return if they have left.

Plan in advance what you will do if something goes wrong - a teenager passes out or a fight breaks out. You may want to talk to your local police a few days before the party, to get some advice on these sorts of issues. Don't be afraid to get medical help or call the police if you need to. In a medical emergency, always call 999 for an ambulance.

Your responsibility for guests' safety does not end as soon as you get people out the door! Be aware of how guests will get home, whether by taxi, with friends or with parents. Don't let any guest get into the car of anyone who has been drinking.

Expect your teenager to help you clean up after the party. They may like to enlist a close friend to stay the night, who can also help!

Disclaimer: The BBC Parenting site is provided for your general information only. The information contained on this site should not be treated as a substitute for medical, legal or other professional advice. The BBC is not responsible or liable for the contents of any websites of third parties which are listed on this site.