She lets him stay out all night if he wants to. This example goes a long way toward helping us understand our teens. On the one hand, they want the privileges of staying out late and doing what they want. And, on the other, they need the structure and guidelines that help them develop self-discipline. Curfews help parents teach valuable lessons to their teens.
Curfews can help parents and children develop a trusting relationship.
When teens come home on time, parents tend to trust them and see them as more responsible. Curfews also help us teach our children that, as adults, we earn the privileges we have. Teens need to learn that what they do, the decisions they make, determine what opportunities they have in life. For example, our jobs afford us the opportunity to provide food, clothing, shelter, and other activities for ourselves and our families. These are privileges that we earn.