Having a teenager sneaking out is fairly common and if you’re a teenager who’s thinking of sneaking out of the house then we understand the excitement of it all. Often, your teen will want to sneak out of the house just to have that small feeling of rebellion against their parents.
Some teens will sneak out for the excitement of short lived freedom and to see their friends. It doesn’t matter whether your kid is sneaking out to have some innocent fun with their friends or if they’re doing something a bit more extreme like reckless driving, drugs, or alcohol, sneaking out isn’t safe and is usually a recipe for disaster.
If you’re the parent of a teen then it’s your role to make sure your kid is safe and is not out there making trouble and bad decisions. It’s true that you won’t always know when your teen is sneaking out – that’s the whole point of sneaking out after all!
But, our article should help you determine how your kid may sneak out and what they may be up to so you can target it before it happens. It’s also worth talking to them beforehand about the consequences of sneaking out if they decide to do so.
If you catch your kid sneaking out then don’t get too mad but help them to learn from their mistakes by talking them through it and showing them the consequences.
How To Sneak Out At Night?
As a parent, there are some key indications that your once bundle of joy is now looking to push the boundaries that you have set for them. So here is how your teenager may be sneaking out of the house.
If you as parents are in bed relatively early due to work commitments and that pesky early morning alarm then sneaking out as a teen can be quite a simple task.
They will have to consider carefully if you have a dog as they will want to avoid them as they sneak out as they could bark and wake everybody up – not ideal. They will also no doubt have a good alibi prepared just in case they get caught. So if you do catch your teens doing something out of the ordinary and they have a quick and easy answer to your question – there is a pretty good chance you just caught them in the act of sneaking out.
Before they sneak out, they will need to plan a few things so their plan of action runs smoothly. Some of the things they’ll want to consider are
- What time do your parents go to bed?
- How are you sneaking out
- Where you’re going.
- Are there any pets that may stop you?
- Make sure you have plenty of excuses in your pocket in case you’re stopped.
Teen Sneaking Out – The Process
If you were in your teenager’s shoes and trying to sneak out without getting caught this is the process that they may follow.
- Go to bed dressed and wear your pjs over your outfit so nobody is suspicious of what you’re about to do.
- Once you get outside, you’ll want to take off your pajamas and keep them close by so you’re ready to go.
- Then, once you’re back home, you’ll then want to change back into your pajamas which makes it easier to make an excuse to your family if you look as if you’ve just woken up.
Now we’ve spoken about preparing your plan, how do your teenagers actually sneak out?
If it’s your first time, it’s good to use the bathroom like you would normally – flush the toilet, turn on the tap, shuffle around, and then leave slowly. If anybody questions why you’re up then the answer is obvious, you just needed the toilet.
Once you’re downstairs, you’ll want to be as quiet as you possibly can. Take your shoes off first so you’re not clattering around too much and that you don’t wake anyone up. If you also sneak around without shoes on and you bump into one of your parents then it’s easier to explain.
Our super tip is to make sure that you’re super cautious with squeaky doors and floorboards and especially if you’re using your car because you could wake your parents up.
Make sure you also take an extra key and leave the door unlocked so you can get back in. Once you’re out, go have a nice time and then do everything in reverse and get cozy into bed so your parents don’t suspect a thing.
So now you know how they are getting out of the house, you can be more aware and even put things in place to prevent them from doing so. But the bigger question is why are they sneaking out?
Fun Things To Do When Sneaking Out
There are lots of things you may want to do when you sneak out to have fun but if you’re stuck for ideas then we have a few suggestions for you. Take a look at our list if you’d like some inspiration for you and your pals.
- Listen to music
- Crash a party
- Find somewhere and look at the sky and stargaze
- Think about life together
- Dance through the streets late at night
- Play like kids in a playground
- Go to the movies
- Go on a long walk
- Go on a drive
- Go for food
- Go to the beach and swim
Should I Sneak Out – Teenagers Thoughts
At the end of the day, the choice is yours and you’ll sneak out if you want to and we can’t stop you. But, it’s important that you recognize the risks of sneaking out and then you can question whether one night of freedom is truly worth it.
Lots of people say that it’s totally worth it and they have lots of stories to tell but it’s worth noting that you’ll be betraying a lot of trust when you sneak out. If you’re close to your parents then you could be starting to burn those bridges that you’ve built together.
If you live somewhere safe then it’s naturally a lot safer to sneak out but you want to be careful in terms of safety no matter where you go. Don’t do any drugs or underage drinking and don’t hang out with dangerous people as it isn’t safe and can certainly do much more harm than good.
Also, is being grounded by your parents the best thing to happen as a result of a night out? Is it really worth it?
Steps To Stop Your Kids From Sneaking Out
If you’re eager to stop your kid from sneaking out then there are a few things you can do, as well as establishing punishments if they do this. The punishments for sneaking out are in the next section so you can take a look if you want to jump straight there. So how do you stop your kids from sneaking out?
- Establish why your kid wants to sneak out – If you have this honest conversation with your kid then you’ll be able to establish why they want to sneak out in the first place. Try to listen to them without getting mad or interrupting. If you’re able to hear what they’re saying then you’ll be able to compromise and help them come to their needs in a healthy way.
- Chat to them about the risks – If your kid is going to sneak out then they’ll want to know the risks. We all remember thinking we were invincible and made of steel as a teen but the truth is, this isn’t true. You’ll want to talk to them about crime statistics and mention the things that could happen to them if they’re unsafe and out at night.
- Explain your role as a parent – You’ll want to explain to your teen that your role as a parent isn’t to make your kid’s life horrific and boring but it’s to keep them safe. In fact, the ability to make good decisions isn’t fully developed until our mid 20s. Tell your teen that the reason you’re making decisions is to help them make good ones in the future. They may not like that idea but it’s for the best.
- Don’t let them have electronics at night – If your teen has already snuck out once then it may be worth considering taking their phones and placing them outside of their bedroom at night in a safe place. They’ll be less likely to sneak out if they’re not tempted by their friends.
Creative punishments for sneaking out
If your kid has been sneaking out then you may be on the hunt for punishments that may deter them from thinking about doing it again. Sneaking out can be dangerous, especially if it’s not done responsibly.
- Set curfews.
- Take away vehicles like cars or limit their usage of the family car.
- Limit interactions with friends.
- More chores for your teen – extend that to do list.
- Ground your teen for a specific amount of time.
- Create a contract initially indicating expectations for their phones, cars, and safety and set a curfew.
- Have them help in the community.
- Removing privileges.
Is Sneaking Out Illegal?
Sneaking out itself isn’t illegal but most likely, the thing your kid or you’re sneaking out to do is most likely illegal, hence why you’re sneaking out. These things include taking drugs, drinking alcohol underage, and antisocial behavior.
Sneaking Out Of The House
So, if you’re a teen thinking of sneaking out then you need to be aware of the consequences as it’s not completely safe and it may not be completely worth it.
If you’re a parent then we understand that you won’t want your kid to sneak out either way. We’ve put together a list of punishments for your kid so you can try to prevent your teen from sneaking out again. You want to be able to trust your teen as much as possible and if you think they’re going to sneak out then this trust will be ruined.