There’s no doubt your kids will grow up faster than you expect. You’ll probably have to have some tricky discussions with them before you’re fully prepared.
Talking openly, however, is the best way to really connect with your kids and help protect them. Kids are now exposed to drugs, alcohol, sex, and tobacco earlier than ever. They’ve got access to a whole world of adult related content from their smartphone and social media.
According to the experts, there’s really nothing you can do to prevent your child from being exposed to these elements before they’re old enough to understand the consequences. What you can do is talk to them and help them separate fact from fiction. Here’s how you can talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol:
1. Provide age-appropriate information
A swift and dull information dump is definitely not the way to go. You need to ease your child into the conversation and give them small chunks of information at a time. If your child’s younger than age 5, start with conversations about health and taking care of the body by monitoring consumption. If they’re older than age 8, start talking about how drugs and alcohol are portrayed in the media and then explain all the different consequences of consuming them in excess. It is important not to scare the child in any way and to approach the subject in a friendly and approachable manner.
2. Signal family values
It’s important that your kids understand where you and your partner (if applicable) stand on these issues. Telling your kids how to behave in the context of family values is a good way to encourage personal responsibility. Explain how you and your partner take care of what you consume and how you expect the same from them. Show them how you and your partner deal with the painkillers and prescription drugs your doctor has asked you to take. Try to teach your kids about the problems faced due to addiction or overdoses.
3. Talk about peer pressure
Talking about peer pressure can be tricky if you approach it from the wrong perspective. Instead of doling out rules about who they can hang out with, teach your kids to differentiate between “good” friends and “bad” influences. Encourage your child to spend time with people who make them feel good about themselves and exercise good choices when around their peers.
4. Reinforce trust
Give your children responsibility and make sure they know you trust them to do the right thing. Let them know it’s okay to make mistakes, so long as they learn from them. Extreme restrictions and a lack of trust can quickly spiral out of control and can cause a downward spiral in your relationship.
5. Create self-esteem
Kids with a lot of self-esteem are less likely to indulge in drug abuse. Teach your child to say ‘no’ confidently and reach out for help whenever needed. Keep reinforcing their confidence and self perception.
There’s no easy way to talk about drugs and alcohol with your child. However, a few well-timed pieces of genuine advice and support can protect them for life and help them make better decisions.
Photo credit: iStock
Having open and honest discussions with our kids about drugs and alcohol is essential in today’s society. By providing age-appropriate information, teaching family values, and reinforcing trust, we can equip our children with the knowledge and self-esteem to make responsible choices