Top 7 Coupons You Could Give Your Teenager

Only at age 13 and your teenager already has demands? When did all of this occur? What happened to teenagers just going to high school and worrying about how to get a zit removed from your face? Now its drugs, sex, being out with the wrong crowd, drugs, and the like! I didn't have all of these issues during my teenage years and it seems to have exponentiated over the last decade or so.

Parents, your teenagers need love too. I want to implement my coupon system for teenagers so that they can enjoy some privileges for a day that they may not ordinarily get (if ever).

Coupon #1 - One day without chores.

Yes, the thing most teenagers desire (at least while they're at home), not to have to do those annoying chores. Grant your teenager a day, or a week if you're feeling generous, of chore-less bliss. Encourage them to fill their time with other activities or give them options of what else they can do.

Coupon #2 - Use my credit card however you like (up to a certain amount).

This is the jackpot coupon. You may have to add a few stipulations for this one - like "don't use this for any illegal activity whatsoever." Give them a limit to use, and whenever they want to cash in on the card, you can hand them the plastic (debit or credit plastic). If you prefer to use cash, then by all means do cash instead! The idea is a shopping day for your teenager to go wherever they want and get whatever they want on you.

Coupon #3 - Dress mom and dad in a funny costume.

This one isn't reserved for Halloween, but for any day of the year that they choose to redeem the coupon. The teenager would get the costume and have the parents dress up in that costume for the day. Possible stipulations include not wearing the costume to important meetings or gatherings, not wearing anything that would cause embarrassment or shame to the family, that kind of thing. This is more of a funny coupon. You may get to see what your teenager would love to see you in as a joke.

Coupon #4 - Parents must listen to all my music for a day.

For those parents who can't stand their child's rock music, or loud R&B music, for a day you have to tolerate it. You must listen to it, but you don't have to like it. Be open about whatever song(s) your teenager wants to play that day. Use this as an opportunity to understand your teenager better. Listen to the lyrics, feel the beat of the music, and see how it impacts them. Ask questions about it; make it educational for you. This is a way into your teenager you may never get on a normal day.

Coupon #5 - Break curfew for a weekend.

I'm reminded of the Cosby Show episode where Rudy gave her parents a list of demands and they granted one of them which was to let her stay up as late as she wanted. She still had to go to school and do everything else that was required of her, but she got to stay up late, and boy did she pay for it. She felt terrible in the mornings and was crashing night after night.

Similar to this implement a weekend that is curfew-free. This works well if you're in a city that doesn't impose curfew laws for minors, otherwise you'll have to find some other way to implement this. Basically if your teenager wants to stay out until the wee hours of the morning, then with that coupon they have permission to do so. You may want to add the disclaimer that if they do anything illegal or get into trouble in any way punishment will be inflicted to the full extent of parental law.

Coupon #6 - Parents serve the teenager for a day.

Whatever way the teenager decides, the parents must serve them that day. If you want to fully act in character get a butler or maid outfit and have a bell to give your child. Let them eat breakfast in bed, have lunch in the living room, and clean up after them. It's a day for them to be somewhat lazy and just kick back and enjoy life without the hassle of specifics. If your child is a neat-freak, however, they probably won't make the most out of this as others would.

Coupon #7 - Parent will give teenager a cash bonus if child gets certain grades.

This is incentive for your teenager to shoot for certain grades. If you know they're not very enthusiastic about their classes, they may be enthusiastic about the opportunity to receive extra money at the end of the school year. I remember my mom used to give me money based on whatever grades I got. For example: an A was $4, a B was $3, etc. I got report cards every quarter, so every ten weeks or so it was a nice little chunk of change. You may already have a system like this in place already, but this coupon will allow them to cash in on a bonus, if they remember to cash in the coupon.