Getting Involved at Your Child's Middle School Dance

As a parent of a Middle School Student, you are probably concerned about how to stay involved with your child's life... while giving them the space to grow and become more independent. Helping plan your child's Middle School dance is one great way to accomplish this--and provide much needed assistance to weary administrators and over-extended teachers.

As a volunteer, you may be asked to head a committee or tasked with a single job such as hiring the right DJ. Whatever your involvement, be sure to include your son or daughter in to the planning process, asking for feedback and ideas. Having a task to accomplish together will establish a bonding, and set the tone for how you and your student will work together throughout their school social activities through Middle and High School. Remember, they will be exerting their own personal style, and their music or clothing choices may not be your own, but are not necessarily bad. As long as they fit the school's policies and are not crude or inappropriate, your child's tastes should be considered. This dance is not for you... it is for the kids and should reflect what they would like!

Take the cues from your child too, as they may be very willing to help you in music selection while you sit at home, but may completely ignore you as a chaperone at the dance while with their friends. Try not to take it personally--your child is growing up and trying to establish boundaries. At the end of the night, or the next day though, be sure to ask your child about the event, and maintain that open line of communication. You may find they are receptive to sharing with you more when not trying to show-off for their friends.

The Middle School years can be rough ones for parents and children, but they can also be profoundly rewarding! Stay involved, volunteer, engage... but remember to take a step back when the situation merits it. You are helping your son or daughter grow, by allowing them a little freedom of space and expression.

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Professional DJs, MCs, VJs, Event Coordinators, and Party Motivators:
Charlotte, North Carolina

School Dance Theme Tips

School has just begun, and it is time for school administrators and committees to start thinking about those big school events: the high school prom, homecoming, semi formal, and other great dances and events.

The first step when planning these events is determining the theme. The party theme will affect the invitations, fliers, decorations, favors, music and dress code. Having a theme will set the stage for all planning activities and make the dance more memorable.

First, determine how many events you will have this year. Would you like them to all follow a similar theme? Would you like them to flow with the seasons, or be based on a series of books or movies? You may want one large event, or several smaller ones. Getting these on the calendar immediately will help the planning process.

Next, choose a theme. Think romance for proms, or school spirit for homecoming--but be careful--students are notorious for finding humor or misconstruing things that adults come up with--so keep it simple, and avoid any kinds enteof double entendres. Movies, books, or popular themes like "under the sea" always work well and can be fun for the students and staff to plan.

The best way to set your theme is with the music. Work with your DJ company to choose songs that are appropriate for your audience and that follow your theme. For example, a "70's disco" dance will be even more fun and thematic if 90's pop-rock songs are not thrown in to the mix!

One of your biggest factors will be budget. While you can go with almost any theme and fit it into your budget, how much you can spend will determine how far you can take it. Do you want to give away favors? Will there be food? Will decorations be bought or made? These are all factors that will affect your budget.

Choosing and running with a theme will not only help you make decisions about the event, but will help get the student body excited about the upcoming dance and guide a student-run dance planning committee's creativity--ensuring a successful, unique and memorable event for all!

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Professional DJs, MCs, VJs, Event Coordinators, and Party Motivators:
Charlotte, North Carolina