To Set a Curfew… or Not? Parenting Teens and Boundaries

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The Parenting Pair Podcast

Dr. Annalise Caron & Dr. Suzanne Allen

26 episodes

2 days ago

Welcome to The Parenting Pair Podcast! We’re Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen—child and adolescent clinical psychologists and moms of teens and tweens. After years of fielding questions at the bus stop, on the sidelines, and in our offices, we created this podcast to bring compassionate, evidence-based guidance straight to you. Each week, we tackle real questions from parents and explore all things related to teens, tweens, development and mental health. Together, we’ll offer practical support for navigating the ups and downs of raising tweens and teens—especially when challenges arise. You’re doing important work. Let’s do it together. Check out "The Parenting Pair" youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@TheParentingPair

All content for The Parenting Pair Podcast is the property of Dr. Annalise Caron & Dr. Suzanne Allen and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

To Set a Curfew… or Not? Parenting Teens and Boundaries

The Parenting Pair Podcast

29 minutes

4 weeks ago

To Set a Curfew… or Not? Parenting Teens and Boundaries

Should parents set a curfew for their teens—or is it better to allow for more flexibility? And if setting a curfew, what is the “right” time for teens to be home? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron unpack one of the most common questions parents face about raising teenagers: when, why, and how to set curfews.

They discuss the benefits of curfews—providing structure, ensuring safety, and helping teens develop responsibility—while also considering the challenges, including power struggles, and the ability for teens to call and text ready to negotiate. The episode also dives into what parents should do when teens repeatedly break curfew, and how to use these moments as opportunities to teach accountability instead of fueling endless confrontations.

Together, Dr. Allen and Dr. Caron explore:

The crucial elements for raising a teen
Why curfews can support safety and responsibility
How to make a curfew work for your family and teen
Balancing independence with structure as teens grow
How to handle repeated curfew-breaking
Using curfews as a tool for communication and care, not control

Here are some highlights from this episode:

00:00 – Should Parents Set Curfews for Teens… or Not?
03:20 – Building the Foundation of a Healthy Parent–Teen Relationship
04:34 – What Curfews Are Really About
05:24 – The Key Benefits of Setting Curfews
07:41 – Thinking About Curfews as a Helpful Guideline
08:48 – When Teens Push Back Against Boundaries
10:48 – Do Curfews Actually Work for Every Teen?
11:32 – Why Parenting Is Never One-Size-Fits-All
12:22 – Practical Tips for Setting a Teen Curfew
15:26 – The Importance of Clear Expectations
17:07 – Flexibility in Parenting: Loosening or Tightening Limits
17:29 – What to Do When Teens Break Curfew
21:42 – How to Respond If Curfew Is Broken Repeatedly
23:14 – What If Your Teen Refuses to Follow Curfew?
26:51 – One Crucial Step to Check Before Setting a Curfew

If you’ve ever questioned whether curfews really work—or worried about how to enforce one without damaging your relationship—this episode will give you practical, research-based strategies to set boundaries while keeping trust and connection strong.

👉 Subscribe for more expert parenting insights on raising confident, resilient teens.

Visit www.theparentingpair.com to learn more.