Q. My 16-year-old daughter is going to her first music festival this summer and I am really worried. She was desperate to go and I agreed earlier this year as it seemed a long time off. Now it is looming and I am concerned about her safety and about exposure to drink and drugs. She is going with a mixed group of boys and girls, and I also worry she might be vulnerable whilst under the influence.

A. Your daughter is obviously really excited about the prospect of going away to a music festival for the first time and I'm sure it will be well deserved after studying for her exams. It is natural that she will want to let her hair down, so how can you best prepare her for her first taste of freedom?

I would suggest that you ease your worries by talking to your daughter before she goes, this way you can be assured that she will have all the relevant facts and information available to be able to make intelligent decisions. After all, parents can't be with their teens 24-hours a day.

Try to keep an open mind and listen to her point of view. Good communication between parents and their teenagers is key. Teenagers have a job to do, they are busy trying to break away and think and act for themselves. It is really important that we make time to listen to our children as well as expecting them to listen to us.

Talking about sex, sexually transmitted infections, drinking and trying drugs may not be easy for parents but research shows us that this is what young people want. It may be hard, but it's worth it if it helps to keep them safe. If you need to gen up on this, there are lots of good websites providing a wealth of information – check out the links below.

Unprotected and early sex is often linked to alcohol and drugs, especially if it's for the first time. Most who have sex under the influence regret what happened - and a recent statistic showed that 40% of sexually active 13-14 year olds were drunk or stoned when they had first sex. However, to keep it all in perspective the majority of young people don't have sex before 16.

Try to keep talking about responsibility and choice. Let your daughter know you understand that drinking, trying drugs or having sex may be a part of teenage life but that if she experiments, she must be responsible and avoid taking undue risks.

Some parents worry that sex education at school encourages young people to have sex early. There is no evidence that this is the case and there is plenty of evidence that Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) helps young people be more aware of risks and how to make safe choices.

Talk to your daughter about safe choices and options while at the concert such as staying with the group and keeping in touch with you via mobile phone, even if it's just the odd text to let you know everything is ok.

Try to help your daughter to resist pressure. Point out that her friends may just be 'showing off.' They may not be doing what they say they are doing. Help her to see that she has a mind of her own.

Try to relax, your daughter will have a ball. The more trust and faith you put on her, the more responsible she is likely to be.

For more information about talking to your children about sex call Parentline on 0808 800 2222 for a 'Time to Talk' leaflet and a few tips and hints on getting started.

An ideal resource for parents and carers, Parentline Plus offers:

A free, confidential 24-hour Parentline 0808 800 2222

A free text phone for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment 0800 783 6783

Email support at parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk

Parents Together groups and workshops, face to face and by telephone

Information leaflets

Individual parent support

A helpful website – visit Parentline Plus

Useful websites

R U Thinking - Information, advice and guidance for young people under 18 on sex, relationships and contraception
Brook - Information and advice for young people under 25 on all aspects of sexual health
ADFAM - Information for family members facing problems with drugs or alcohol
FRANK - Information and advice on drugs