Is it Appropriate to Bring a Teenager to Las Vegas?

The idea of visiting Las Vegas with teenagers may seem ill conceived, but this generally "adult" destination can provide great family activities, including world class exhibits, top notch theatre productions, amazing architecture, and breath-taking natural wonders. You also shouldn't discount the opportunity you'll have to encounter 'teaching' moments about making ethical/moral decisions when faced with temptations. Let's look at some common objections and reasons people may be against the idea of bringing teenagers to Las Vegas.

Objection # 1 - They'll be exposed to gambling.

While Las Vegas certainly is the gambling capitol of the United States, it is entirely possible to stay there for a week and never even see a gambling floor. There are over a dozen non-gaming hotels, some of them high end resort quality, so there are plenty of gambling-free places to place your head at night. Even if you do opt to stay at a resort with a casino, all the casinos have strictly enforced rules about keeping people under the age of 21 off the casino floor. And believe me, they do enforce it - my son and I were told to 'move along' by a friendly security guard when my other son had to run back up to our room to get his sunglasses - and we'd been standing there all of 20 seconds.

I'm not saying that gambling in Las Vegas is invisible. You and your teen won't be able to miss the signs advertising the different games available at the casinos. However, gambling is highly visible in almost every grocery store in the USA in the form of lottery tickets, so simply viewing gambling signs clearly isn't going to corrupt your teenager.

Don't be surprised if they have some questions about it since the idea of easy money is appealing to all of us, but be prepared to discuss the reality of gambling (i.e., if people weren't consistently losing money, the casinos wouldn't be here in the first place, so the odds are that most gamblers will lose money). Think of it as an opportunity to talk about gambling addiction or the financial disadvantages of gambling with your teenager. It could also segue into a conversation about the ethics of playing fairly or where gambling sits on your personal moral scale. You should jump at these opportunities when you get them because how many other times will you be able to have that conversation with your child?

Objection #2 - They'll be exposed to prostitutes.

You may be surprised to learn that prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas. It certainly doesn't stop it from happening, just like it doesn't stop it from happening in every other city in the USA, but I promise you won't find gaggles of prostitutes with fishnet stockings, low cut tops, and cigarettes hanging out of the corner of their mouths roaming the streets.

What you will see are advertisements on the sides of trucks, busses, or taxis with a scantily clad young woman and a title screaming: HOT GIRLS COME TO YOU! There will also likely be hawkers on the street passing out flyers or business cards with similar advertising. The pretense is that these are 'private exotic dancers' but I think most people understand the reality of what is being advertised.

Again, this is a learning opportunity for you and your teen. It could open up a door to a host of conversations, including the different political stances on prostitution, the ethics of the sex industry, your own moral views on the matter, and much more. Try not to overreact to any questions or signs you might see because this will only increase the intrigue for your teenager. Instead, handle the issue in as a matter-of-fact way as possible, answer his or her questions honestly, and don't make your teen feel bad for asking about it.

Objection#3 - There's nothing for teenagers to do in Las Vegas.

Au contraire, my friend, au contraire! On the surface it may seem like everything in Vegas is geared strictly towards adults or towards younger children accompanied by parents. However, there are so many things for teenagers to do either with the family or by themselves, I'll bet your teen begs to come back to Las Vegas. There are thrill rides, video arcades, outdoor adventures, shopping malls, popular theatre productions, and exhibits featuring everything from exotic cars to Titanic artifacts.

If you don't live near a major city, this could be your teen's first exposure to a professionally produced theatre show, which is something everyone should experience at least once in a life time. There are also magic shows, spectacular feats of strength and balance at the many Cirque du Soleil productions, glitzy dance routines, live concerts, and much more. For more specific suggestions of things for teens to do in Vegas, check out this article listing some great activities for teens to do in Vegas.

Vegas has a lot to offer teens and their parents in the way of things to do and, if you handle it properly, it can be a gateway to helping your teen think about some serious issues he or she may face when they become an adult. Even if it is never spoken out loud, your teenager is sure to appreciate that you think they are mature enough to go to as cool a place as Las Vegas - and anything that builds a bond between you and your son or daughter is definitely a good thing.