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| Home: Family Guide How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs |
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- Start early
As a parent, take the opportunity to talk to your child first, before they hear and receive mixed messages from their peers.
- Initiate conversations with your child
Speak clearly to your child and use vocabulary that they will be able to understand. Wait for a window of opportunity to initiate conversation; try not to interrupt your child when they are doing something that they consider important. Use a tactful approach.
- Provide age appropriate information
Make sure the information you offer your child fits their age and/or developmental stage.
- Look for teachable moments
Take the opportunity to discuss current events relating to drugs and other issues to initiate conversations.
- Create an open environment Create an atmosphere in which your child can ask you questions on any subject without the fear of consequences.
- Communicate your values
Don’t give textbook answers to questions. Explain to your child how you feel about drugs.
- Establish a clear ‘say no’ message
Clarify your expectations, and do not to give mixed messages. Stay consistent.
- Be a good example
Your behavior needs to reflect your own beliefs as well as those you would like to instill in your child.
- Listen to your child
Listening lets your child know that they are important to you. It also helps you understand what your child really wants to know as well as what they already understand.
- Repeat back what your child tells you
This will ensure that you understand what your child has said and it will also decrease misunderstandings.
- Encourage choice
Allow your child to become a confident decision maker as well as encourage some independence.
- Be honest
Providing honest answers strengthens your child’s ability to trust.
- Discuss what makes a good friend
Peer pressure is a factor in every child’s life. Helping them understand what makes a good friend is very important.
- Build self esteem
Kids who feel good about themselves are much less likely to turn to illegal substances to get high.
- Use everyday opportunities to talk
Don’t miss opportunities to talk to your child. Take advantage of the times when your child wants to talk to you.
- Talk about issues over and over
Don’t assume that talking once to your child is all it takes for them to avoid drugs. Talk again and again without seeming overbearing.
- Choose your battles wisely
Decide what matters to you and what doesn’t. Don’t nitpick.
- Invite your child’s friends to dinner
This is a great way to get to know the friends your child has chosen. It also lets your child know that you are interested in their social life and whom they choose to surround themselves with.
- Discuss checking in
Let your child know that you do trust them but you need to know where they are.
- Talk about risks
Discuss the possible risks that are associated with smoking, drugs, alcohol and premarital sex.
- Help your child establish a game plan
Talk to your child about risky situations and help them establish healthy alternatives and good choices, before they have to make them in a social situation.
- Keep the lines of communication open
If your child feels comfortable talking to you, they will be more willing to ask your advice.
- Let your kids feel guilty
If they have hurt someone, let your child feel remorse for what they have done.
- Set rules and enforce them
Be clear on rules you expect your child to follow and enforce them consistently.
- If rules are broken
Establish fair punishments in advance if rules are broken and be consistent applying them.
- If you suspect a problem
Be prepared to seek help and research what would be the best solution for your family. |
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