Life. The Anti-Prom.
Prom InformationIs Your Teen Going to Prom?

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
- Prom Information
- Prom Facts
- The Risks
- Signs & Symptoms
- What to Watch for
- Tips for Parents

Signs & Symptoms of Teen Prom Plans

How can you tell if your child is planning to go to prom? It is difficult because teens may already have established a social network from which to gain a foothold into the dance. Changes in interests and mood swings are common. What should you look for?

Also ask yourself if your child seems to have an unusually high number of friends or is particularly "close" to a member of the opposite sex. Is he or she spending time alone with a "friend"?

Watch List for Parents

  • Changes in friends
  • Additional friends of the opposite sex
  • Increased secrecy about possessions
  • Holding hands, kissing, or other affectionate behavior
  • Telephone use
  • "Coded" language around adults
  • Hidden dresses (girls only)
  • Hidden business cards for tuxedo or limousine rental services
  • Withdrawls of large amounts of cash
  • New use of air fresheners to cover up the smell of roses
  • Wearing a suit or fancy dress
  • Change in hair style or personal grooming
  • Taking the car out on Saturday night

These changes often indicate that something social and sinister is going on; that often means prom. You may want to schedule an appointment for a psychiatrist to correct this deviant behavior. Be careful as some of these signs can also indicate the reaching-out stage of depression. Watch for these signs and seek profesional help if trouble emerges.


Sponsored by The National Youth Anti-Prom Media Campaign