Did you know that April is Alcohol Awareness Month? This is a fantastic opportunity to visit with your child about alcohol. Teaching your children about the dangers of under-age drinking is an important step in raising responsible tweens & teenagers. Take the time to learn what they think about alcohol by asking and listening to what they say. If they don’t have much to say, ask them what their friends and peers say, think or do with alcohol.
Short, frequent discussions can have a real impact on your child’s decisions about alcohol. Sitting down for the "big talk" about alcohol can be intimidating for both you and your child. Lots of little talks are more effective than one "big talk."
Talking often builds an open, trusting relationship with your child.
Build trust by being honest, accurate and factual when they ask for information.
When you do talk about alcohol, make your views and rules clear.
Keep it age-appropriate: As children get older, the conversation changes.
And remember, what you do is as important as what you say. Setting a good example by drinking responsibly or not drinking at all shows that you practice what you preach. What you do impacts your child more than you might think. Children watch parents and form habits by what they see every day.
For more information on talking to your kids about alcohol, click here: https://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/parent-resources/small-conversations) Other good resources can be found at www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/parent-resources.
#SublettePreventionCoalition #FamilyTime #raisinghealthykids #noalcoholfortweens #noalcoholforteens #underagedrinking #talkoften #spendtimewithyourchildren #listen #SubletteCountyPublicHealth #togetherSublette #togetherwerise #PublicHealth #slowyourself #SAMHSA
