April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and although talking with your kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol can be very difficult, there are strategies that can help.
Following the five suggestions below can help you develop regular communication with your children, if you haven’t already. Talking with them about their day-to-day lives will make it much easier to bring up the harder topics, such as drugs and alcohol, when the time is right.
- Listen. Make eye contact with your child, and let them know you’re paying attention. If it’s the end of a long day and you need time to relax, say so. Explain that you need a few minutes to unwind, and then you’ll be ready to give your full attention.
- Do activities together. Do chores together and talk while you’re working. Or, run to the grocery store together – car rides can be a great time to spark up conversation.
Set up regular family meetings. Use this time to let every member of your family discuss what’s on their mind.
- Role-play with your child and teach them how to say no. Simulate a situation where a friend is pressuring your child into drinking or smoking. Explain how to think through a situation like this and emphasize the potential consequences of their choices.
- Support your child in everything they do. Regularly encouraging and supporting your child in school, sports and extracurricular activities shows them that you support them should peer pressure come into play.
Find more information and prevention strategies at www.samhsa.gov.
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