The homecoming dance is an enjoyable custom for many high schools, and it’s a good excuse for your children to mingle with their peers and celebrate the homecoming football game. This dance is usually hosted by the student government or committee, and as such can be a good time for students to dress up in a formal manner, celebrate an important event, and feel connected to the culture of the school.
Of course, this is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, so you don’t have to think too hard about it. Sure, it’s easy for high schoolers to feel very sincerely about it, especially about who they choose to go with, but in any case having fun and enjoying a good time with their friends should be the main focus.
It may be that your loved one is relatively nervous about attending this dance, and so in this guide we’ve decided to help parents set up a few preparations to make the night a success:
Emotional Preparation
Homecoming can seem like a momentous occasion for your high school age kids, and it’s not hard to see why. Many of their peers will prepare for it and talk about it for weeks leading up to the dance, and so it’s not hard for a student to see its importance in the school calendar.
For that reason, it’s good to talk to your child about the event, what it means to them, but also to help emphasize that this is a fun event to be enjoyed, not a social status to earn or an evening to “perfect.” This way, they can avoid worrying about looking perfect or turning up in the right way, they can just be excited for the dance and seeing their friends.
Let them address any concerns or worries they might have, and if they feel anxious about it, you can talk to them through that as well. A little support goes a long way.
Consider Photography Options
It can be nice to photograph your side of the event, be that your child in their cool outfits, or perhaps even the car you’ve rented for them to be driven to the event in style.
You could hire a professional photographer if you hope to perfect this outcome, or you can simply use the auto-lighting settings on your iPhone and snap a good number of simple pictures and selfies with them so you have something to remember.
Odds are, the school will have a professional photographer working at the event, too. It’s entirely up to you which method you rely on, but preserving those memories is always wonderful.
Have Fun Choosing The Outfit
“The perfect outfit” is no doubt what your child will be looking for, of course, it’s always good to find something that looks beautiful and fits well, or perhaps a suit that helps compliment their features and is fitted to their frame.
Yet it’s also important to have fun selecting the outfit while making sure it’s comfortable for them to wear. The best homecoming dresses have been designed with practicality and beauty in mind, and can be paired with excellent accessories and simple shoes to look wonderful.
Again, this isn’t a puzzle to be solved but an expression to be made, and applying your creativity and what you also know about your child’s tastes and interests, you’re sure to find a fantastic end result.
Arrange The Ride
You can always drive your child (and perhaps their date) to their homecoming dance. It’s simple, easy and effective. However, if you want to add a little more fun-factor, you might rent a vehicle and a chauffeur to take them there and show them the event in the best possible way.
Arranging the ride could involve booking a classic car, or even enlisting the help of someone you know who owns one. Make sure you trust the driver in control and give them the instructions to drive to the entrance with confidence. Doing so can not only be a fun time, but adds a little theatricality to the event, making it more memorable.
This is totally optional of course, and if you’re not in a position to do that then you haven’t deprived your child of anything. As with everything else on this list, having fun and enjoying yourself is absolutely the first approach to take.
Enjoy A Pre-Dance Event
It can be nice to prepare for the dance at your own house, perhaps letting your child invite a couple of their friends to get ready beforehand too. You might make sure they have a good meal if no food is being served there, if only to give them energy for the evening.
A pre-dance event might also include taking photographs with one another, eating party food, listening to music, and talking through all the high school gossip that one can bear. This way, bringing everyone together and sending them on their way can be a fantastic approach to take.
Communicate Openly
Of course, it’s always healthy to make sure you communicate openly with your teen before the dance. It may be that you can provide them with some valerian root herbal tablets before they head off to help limit their anxiety, as we all know how nerve-wracking such a big event can be.
Perhaps your child isn’t interested in attending with a friend because they’re not on the best terms, and so respecting that and not pushing them into it is important. When you communicate openly, you can help make the event more pleasant for both of you.
This also requires laying down some ground rules such as when they’ll return, and of course, not to go off with their date, or to drink etc. The more you can communicate openly and make your expectations known, the more both of you can respect the needs of the other, and make a real success of this event.
With this advice, you’re certain to perfect your child’s first homecoming dance by preparing for it accordingly.
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