Parents should talk to their kids and let them know mom and dad are willing to listen to any truth there is, Hersch said. Parents should not just take everything at face value, Leff said. He warned parents not to give blanket approval to coed sleepovers. They should find out who will be there and whether there will be supervision. You're sort of walking through a minefield with the availability of drugs and alcohol and with the influences kids are affected by today.
Parents have to find a balance.
Pollack says coed sleepovers can potentially be great experiences for teen-agers. Under the right circumstances, it can be very positive and even revolutionary. But platonic friendships don't always stay platonic. Esposito said he and his girlfriend are more comfortable with each other and know each other better than if they had just started dating right off the bat. A side-effect of platonic friendships may be the development of healthier romantic relationships, Pollack said.