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When you stop to think about your kids, many of parents want to preserve their child's innocence and youth as long as possible. Many parents often forget the pressures children face when it comes to dark subjects like drugs. Educating your children is the first step on the way to their awareness about drugs and drug abuse. To learn how to talk to your kids about drugs, please review the tips provided on this page.
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Introduction
- Broaching difficult subjects with your children is never easy, but you don't want their education to come from anyone other than you. Talking to your children about drugs is a great way to open the lines of communication between you before it's too late.
Step 1: Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
- You want to make sure that you keep the lines of communication between yourself and your children wide open. Do not wait until it's too late, and you suspect that your child may be using drugs already. Someone who is already using drugs will react negatively and defensively, making it difficult to discuss the situation.
- Start talking to your kids about drugs early.
- Children ages seven and under should know the dangers and merits of prescription and over the counter drugs, as sometimes drugs and candy may share confusing similarities.
- Children ages eight to 12 will begin forming their own opinions about drugs, especially dangerous street drugs. Talk with them regularly about drugs and gauge and understanding about their own personal thoughts and feelings.
- Teenagers are in a sensitive period, as they may actually have friends or acquaintances who are using drugs or alcohol on a regular basis. Be sure to talk to your children about how they feel about their friends using drugs, and keep talking.
Step 2: Following the News
- News and current affairs are a great source for conversation starters. If you see instances of famous people or sports athletes in the news who have been connected to drug addiction or activity, you can use this as a leap off point for discussion.
- Talk about the pressures of celebrity atmosphere.
- Steroid use in sports is another great topic.
- Glamorization of drug and alcohol abuse on the big screen.
Step 3: Curb Your Reactions
- You need to be on guard with how you react to your child's opinions and thoughts during discussions. Even if you don't agree with everything they say, it's imperative that you allow them to have their own opinions. Many kids will often feel slighted if you disagree with their opinions, and may go against you just to prove their point.
Step 4: Role-Playing Drug Scenarios
- Consider using role-playing scenarios in which you teach your children how to say no to peer pressure. You can pretend to be a friend or a drug dealer trying to convince your child that it's okay just to try drugs. Teaching your child how to say no in a way that won't make them seem childish is important in the face of peer pressure.
Conclusion
- Talking to your child about drugs is one of the most important, ongoing things you can do as a parent. Keep the lines of communication open and use current events and news stories as leap off points for discussion. Be careful not to force your opinions on your child, and be open to their thoughts and opinions. Consider role-playing with your children so they can learn how to say no with conviction when others pressure them into trying drugs.
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