Music festivals are all part of adolescence and early adulthood- a chance to see your favorite bands and artists live, dress up, have fun with friends and make memories. For the most part they’re managed well and lots of people attend without a hitch, but if it’s your teens first time attending then chances are you’re feeling a little wary. Here are some of the dangers to be aware of, and chat to them about before they leave. 

Loud music

One of the biggest problems with attending festivals is the loud music can really take a toll on your hearing. Advise your teen to stay back away from the speakers, any hearing aid specialists will tell you how disastrous it can be. People report hearing loss, tinnitus and other issues after spending time in noisy environments in their youth. As well as keeping away from the biggest speakers, going outside and taking regular breaks gives the tiny hairs of the ear time to recover. 

Drugs and alcohol

None of us like the idea of our teens dabbling in drugs or alcohol, but unfortunately these things are always going to be rife at festivals. One of the very best things you can do is to educate them of the dangers. Show real life examples online of when things have gone wrong for young people at these events, and make sure they’re aware. The reason many teens try these things is because they’re naive, they’re simply not aware of how real the dangers are. Being an open parent whose willing to communicate and speak about these kinds of topics is crucial, when your child feels as though they can come to you can talk it over they’re less likely to simply give in and do it anyway. If your child speaks to you after doing any of these things, instead of flying off the handle try to stay patient, speak with them and understand why. It will prevent them from doing it again instead of just feeling punished and pushed away. 

Sticking together

There’s safety in numbers, and when your teen is away at an event without you, it’s important to know that their friends are looking out for them. Have a chat with the group before you go, encourage them to set up a location sharing group on their phones so no one gets lost. Tell them to stay together or at least ‘buddy up’ so no one wanders off alone. Make sure everyone has back up power banks to keep their phones charged, and that they understand to not leave things like drinks unattended. 

This is a contributed post.

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