The whole purpose of prom, or any school-sponsored formal, is to give young people the chance to develop their social skills. Somehow that always gets forgotten. That's why it's important to remind your children that prom is really an opportunity for them to practice the social behaviors that will benefit her for the rest of her life. He/She needs to learn how to walk, talk, dress, and act appropriately in formal situations. The more you can help your children understand the purpose of prom, the less likely He/She is to inflate prom into something it was never meant to be. A good way to start your discussion is to ask, "What do you want to remember?"  Prom should be about social relationships, not social status.