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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

What is a reasonable curfew for 15 year old?

25 replies

Noangelbuthavingfun · 02/09/2025 20:57

Just that really... to be out with friends etc. Give me your views on school nights and weekends if different - and why you state those times ? Thanks

OP posts:
DongDingBell · 02/09/2025 21:08

Out with friends where?
Hanging round town / the park has an earlier curfew than at a friend's house.

Park: about 8 right now, and that will get earlier as the nights draw in further (ie Dusk except mud winter, when it is still before tea)

At a house: more like 9 all year round, 10 at weekends and school holidays.

BluebellWoods78 · 02/09/2025 21:10

We didn’t have one. I really don’t see a point. Surely you can be flexible with your child for different occasions? At 15 they’re hardly going to be partying on a school night! On the weekends all I asked was that DD kept in contact with me and I knew where she was. I would always rather do a late pick up than risk her walking home or getting a lift with someone I didn’t trust.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 02/09/2025 21:26

Weekends and she’s out out then I would say 10.30 but it’s depending what she is doing.
If she’s just loitering about like a dirt bag then it’s 9.15 but often not she comes in earlier.
School nights she doesn’t go out often because of extra curricular commitments, homework, and doomscrolling.

Noangelbuthavingfun · 02/09/2025 21:37

The loitering is a thing that really gets to me ! Is this normal for teenagers now?

OP posts:
HardworkSendHelp · 02/09/2025 21:41

On a school night no later than 9.

mamagogo1 · 02/09/2025 21:43

Didn’t have a set one. If I knew where they were I was flexible, if dd2 said she was going out it’s on a case by case basis, but they didn’t really do hanging out in the street, I did find out years later that there was lying about where they were!

LighthouseTeaCup · 03/09/2025 08:13

Out by themselves in the park, walking around - before it gets dark or around 8pm, whichever is earlier

At a friend's house/event - whenever it finishes on a weekend. 9 or 10pm ish more reasonable on a weekday

ByGreyWriter · 03/09/2025 12:01

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WildCherryBlossom · 03/09/2025 12:07

School nights 6:30 unless they have a specific sport or activity on. They need to eat a healthy evening meal, do their homework, be prepared for the next school day.

BeachLife2 · 03/09/2025 12:16

I wouldn’t be setting curfews for a 15 year old as long as they are doing all their homework and studying.

It is great if they are out seeing friends and socialising rather than scrolling tiktok.

BeachLife2 · 03/09/2025 12:16

WildCherryBlossom · 03/09/2025 12:07

School nights 6:30 unless they have a specific sport or activity on. They need to eat a healthy evening meal, do their homework, be prepared for the next school day.

That’s absolutely ludicrous.

No wonder young adults lack independence now when teens are infantilised so much.

My DC was out later than 6.30 at age 9.

Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 03/09/2025 12:17

At 15 ds was in by 9. 16 +it's 10. No need to be walking the streets.

BeachLife2 · 03/09/2025 12:23

Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 03/09/2025 12:17

At 15 ds was in by 9. 16 +it's 10. No need to be walking the streets.

I don’t see the point of setting arbitrary time limits based on age. Bonkers.

Bologneselove · 03/09/2025 12:23

WildCherryBlossom · 03/09/2025 12:07

School nights 6:30 unless they have a specific sport or activity on. They need to eat a healthy evening meal, do their homework, be prepared for the next school day.

Haha I can guess what most 15 years olds would say if you tell them to be home at 6:30pm. Totally unrealistic.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 03/09/2025 12:24

Noangelbuthavingfun · 02/09/2025 21:37

The loitering is a thing that really gets to me ! Is this normal for teenagers now?

Loitering has always been normal for teenagers.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 03/09/2025 12:25

WildCherryBlossom · 03/09/2025 12:07

School nights 6:30 unless they have a specific sport or activity on. They need to eat a healthy evening meal, do their homework, be prepared for the next school day.

18:30, for a teenager who is a year away from being able to leave home altogether if they so choose? Ridiculous.

KawasakiBabe · 03/09/2025 12:27

Mine never had a particular curfew, it all depended on what they were doing. They weren’t street loiterers though, but tbf what is wrong with that? I know if they’re up to no good then that’s an issue but just hanging out with a few friends isn’t automatically a bad thing.

ByGreyWriter · 03/09/2025 12:28

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ByGreyWriter · 03/09/2025 12:28

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MissyB1 · 03/09/2025 12:30

If he’s just hanging around in town with his mates then it’s home by 7, because the shops are shut then and the drinkers are coming out. Obviously it’s different if they are going to an activity like cinema or bowling.
If he’s at the football field then home by 8pm but that will get earlier as it gets dark earlier.
If he was at a friends house I would pick him up by 9 (none of his friends live anywhere nearby), if only to allow their parents to have some peace before bedtime!

Coldnightsapproachingwhereismyduvet · 03/09/2025 12:33

At 16 ds could flounce and not come home. Adding an hour made him feel like he had a bit more freedom. Now nearly 17 or he gets a lift home it's still 10 . Train station is 20 mins walk from home. 10 is late enough to be walking the streets alone..
He's joining the army at 18. He can do what he likes soon enough..

TappyGilmore · 03/09/2025 12:39

No curfew in this house. Just depends on what they are doing, what time it finishes, etc. They don’t just “loiter”. They will be at someone’s house (and may sleep over) or be at an event or the movies or whatever.

itsmeits · 03/09/2025 14:23

WildCherryBlossom · 03/09/2025 12:07

School nights 6:30 unless they have a specific sport or activity on. They need to eat a healthy evening meal, do their homework, be prepared for the next school day.

This was the time I went out!
Came home, did homework, had tea then in by 9/10pm depending on if out at park or at a friends house. 10.30pm at a weekend.

DS 18 not working currently is on a 10.30pm curfew if he's not in or updated he is running late by 10.15pm then the bolt goes on the door - this is due to him falling in the door and waking the whole house at daft O'clock on multiple occasions!!

FatherFrosty · 03/09/2025 14:29

dd has just done GCSEs so 16 now.
Depends what they were doing. They’ve never been one to loiter in parks as such occasional picnic with friends in the summer, which would probably be until 7/8 because it started fairly early.

other than that it really depends where they are and why they are there. I’ve picked them up at 1/2/3 before if they’ve been somewhere like a concert or something. They aren’t one for parties but are one for 5/6 of them hanging around at a house, then I get twitchy from 11 as I want to go to bed.

weekdays, 9-10 as I want to go to bed!!

during GCSE’s she didn’t really go out at all, apart from a couple of times in the half term.

ShuriPouri · 03/09/2025 16:20

I don't have a curfew. It is flexible. DA is 15 and has a mate who lives around the corner and can come home 11/12 at night from them, as long as he tells me an approximate time before I go to bed.. like mum will be home round midnight.. etc

Mind you he hardly goes out, so am chuffed when he does.

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