With children returning to school many parents are preparing their children for the rigors of the academic year. We arm them with the right clothes and the right school supplies, but we often neglect to arm them with the right information about important topics like drug and alcohol use.
The keys to talking to children about such serious issues are using age appropriate information and finding the right opportunities. With regard to the age appropriateness of information, just think about what your child can understand and what might scare them. The goal is never ever to scare your children. With younger children you can talk about how we try to put healthy things into our body and we would never eat something that would not be meant for that purpose. You might make a bit of a joke and say “hey would you eat this rock?” Once your child begins giggling this is a great time to begin talking about other things that we do not want in our bodies. This is also a good time to tell them that there are times when saying no is the right thing to do, such as when someone wants you to put something bad in your body.
As children get older and into their teenage years these conversations should become more to the point. Know your child! If you have the type of child that has a tendency toward anxiety be sure to tread lightly. Use their body language as a guide to see if they are becoming uncomfortable. If you have a teen that does not become scared easily then warn them more directly of the dangers behind drug and alcohol use. Your teenager probably knows someone who uses alcohol or drugs.
When it comes to picking the right times to talk to your child, think of your English papers when you were in school. You had to transition smoothly from one topic to another or your teacher would take away points. The same goes with conversations about drugs and alcohol. We should aim to have smooth transitions so as to make the conversation seem more natural. One great opportunity is if a commercial about drug or alcohol abuse comes on TV. Another example of a good time to talk is if a favorite actor goes public with information about drug use and treatment.
Most importantly, make sure you know what you’re talking about before you start! The CDC provides a wealth of information on their website. Finally, when in doubt you can always consult with a psychologist who can help you with these discussions. Here’s to a great school year ahead!