teaching children about alcohol

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Teaching Your Children About Alcohol 10 DOs & DON’Ts

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Underage drinking continues to plague our youth. Some start drinking as early as middle school; they sneak a bottle of alcohol and experiment with a couple of friends. And it only escalates from there. It's so important to take the effort to teach your kids responsible habits when it comes to alcohol. Following these do's & don'ts will help you give your children the power to stand strong, even when their peers abuse alcohol. View the full post: http://www.duffysrehab.com/blog/teaching-your-kids-about-alcohol-5-dos-and-donts

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Teaching children about alcohol

Teaching Your Children

About Alcohol

10 DOs & DON’Ts

Page 2: Teaching children about alcohol

The 5 Do’s

Teaching Your Children

About Alcohol

Page 3: Teaching children about alcohol

1. Disapprove of Drinking

Your kids are less likely to drink if they know that you strongly disapprove of them drinking. Be sure to let your kids know WHY you disapprove:

✔ It’s illegal.✔ It’s unhealthy and damages their still-developing

brain.✔ It exposes them to high-risk situations—drunk

driving, rape, alcohol poisoning.✔ Your kids will be more likely to struggle with alcohol

problems in the future.✔ It will negatively affect their athletics and

academics.

Page 4: Teaching children about alcohol

Encourage your kids to get involved in the things they enjoy. It will teach them healthy ways to have fun and cope with stress. Schools and communities have many extra-curricular activities:

✔ Clubs✔ Academic (Science Club, NHS)✔ Arts and culture (Spanish Club, Art, Dance, Drama)✔ Business (FBLA)✔ Agriculture (FFA, 4-H)✔ Service (Key Club)

✔ Church youth groups✔ Music✔ Sports

2. Encourage Healthy Outlets

Page 5: Teaching children about alcohol

3. Have Frequent Conversations

✔ Take advantage of everyday opportunities, like dinner or TV time, to talk about alcohol.

✔ Keep the information at a level your kids will understand—what you say to them at 9 will be different from what you will say when they are 14.

✔ Talking to your children every day builds a strong, trusting relationship, which will make talking about serious topics like alcohol easier.

Page 6: Teaching children about alcohol

✔ Be objective when you talk to your children about alcohol.

✔ Clearly set and explain your rules about underage drinking. Give them the facts about alcohol and how serious addiction is.

✔ Let them know if alcoholism runs in the family. If it does, even drinking at 21 may not be worth the risk of addiction.

4. Tell the Truth

Page 7: Teaching children about alcohol

✔ If you have an alcohol problem, seek help and live out sobriety.

✔ If you do drink, explain to your kids the reasons you drink, like to celebrate special occasions, but emphasize that your drinking is always in moderation.

✔ Most importantly, live out responsible drinking.

5. Be a Good Role Model

Page 8: Teaching children about alcohol

The 5 Don’ts

Teaching Your Children

About Alcohol

Page 9: Teaching children about alcohol

✔ Teens who aren’t drinking at an underage drinking party can still get into trouble legally.

✔ It’s inconsistent. Letting teens go to a drinking party expecting them not to drink is like letting them go to a dance expecting them not to dance.

✔ It’s too much pressure. It’s harder to say no when everyone else around you is drinking and there’s a cup within reach.

1. Let them go to Parties w/Alcohol

Page 10: Teaching children about alcohol

Some parents think their child will drink no matter what, so it’s safer to let them drink at home. However, doing so actually opens the door to a child continuing to drink.

Studies show that if children know their parents allow drinking, they will be more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs.

2. Offer your kids Alcohol at Home

Page 11: Teaching children about alcohol

When parents go into this mode, kids usually half listen—perhaps they are too intimidated to fully listen, they zone out, or they are listening, but with an attitude of rebelling inwardly.

Also, parents often think their job is done after one “big talk.” Humans naturally forget things. Children will likely forget what was said too. We all need constant reminders. A “big talk” just isn’t enough.

3. Lecture or have “Big Talks”

Page 12: Teaching children about alcohol

Although the "Say No to Drugs" slogan may help, it isn’t exactly the most effective way to combat the temptation to try that first joint or first drink.

✔ Knowing WHY to say no to drugs and alcohol is more powerful in fighting the pressure to fit in and “be cool.”

4. Rely on the “Just Say No” slogan

Page 13: Teaching children about alcohol

Phrases like, “You can’t handle it,” encourage, rather than discourage, a teen to drink.

The more dangerous something sounds, the more intrigued they might be about it. Avoid grandiose scare tactics.

5. Scare them into Not Drinking

Page 14: Teaching children about alcohol

Over 40 Years of Hope

We’re a family business for a family problem. At Duffy’s, we’ve been providing help for those suffering from

alcoholism and addictions for over 40 years.

If you or someone you love needs help, please call us today.

(888) 717-9724