Keeping an eye on a teen is the reason many parents want to create "the spot" where teens gather. There are countless ways to make that happen, but there are certainly wrong ways to accomplish it. Here are a few hangout traps you should avoid:

• Non-supervised Areas – According to author Erin Brown Conroy, having areas where Mom and Dad don't have access is a definite blunder. "It's not that you'll be supervising every second, but make sure supervision is adequate and the activities are plentiful, so teens don't have time on their hands that can spill into inappropriate activities," she says.
• Drugs, Alcohol and Sex – Some parents feel smoking or having a couple of beers is OK for older teens. Unless you're looking forward to having parents – or the police – beating down your door, this is one idea you should nix. Allowing teens to smoke, drink or have sex may make you a favorite friend to teens, but it's highly unlikely their parents and the local authorities would agree.
• Teen Again – Using slang may give you "cool points," but don't get too extreme with it. Teens can tell when you're trying too hard, and they'll probably think you're phony. "Don't try to be a teen again," Erika Karres, Ed.D., says. "Just be a friend to the teen – helpful, understanding and a role-model." It might seem boring, but ultimately, that's what will make you really seem cool.