Do you sometimes struggle with how to approach your child?
We’ve all been there.
Being a parent is a full time job, especially when your kids are in their teens. High school juniors are presented with a lot of challenges. It’s a sensitive age, and kids can easily succumb to all sorts of temptations.
Parents don’t always feel sure what to do about it and how to approach it. Danger seems to be lurking around every corner, and it’s truly a difficult time for being a parent.
But all is not lost. With the right guidance and lots of love, you can teach your kids the good from bad, and you can overcome any obstacle.
Here’s what you can do to help your kids lead a drug-free life:
#1 Be Close With Your Child
Being close with your child means that he or she confides in you. It means that you are both their parent, and their friend in need. Someone they feel good to talk to and to let in on their secrets, desires and problems.
First if all, of you’re close with your kids you’ll be able to notice if something odd is going on. You will notice changes in behavior, and as a parent you will be able to act right away.
Secondly, research shows that ‘the number one reason teenagers don’t use drugs is because they don’t want to disappoint their parents.’
#2 Talk to Them Openly About Drugs
Do not make drugs a taboo. The more you avoid talking about drugs, the more inclined they’ll be to try it out for themselves. Apart from the illegal drugs like marijuana, meth, cocaine and heroine, you also need to warn them about other substances that are legal but just as dangerous as the illegal ones. Alcohol and tobacco are also highly addictive and just as unhealthy. Children need to be able to understand the consequences that drug addiction causes. Try to be as open about it as you can. Children need to understand that drugs are a real danger, and not just something that parents say to ruin their fun.
#3 Talk to Them When They Feel Ready
Your talk about drugs can go unnoticed if your kids are not interested in hearing about it. Teenagers are sometimes restless, and you shouldn’t be too pushy because you won’t accomplish anything. You need to assess the situation, and catch their attention when they’re interested in hearing about it.
#4 Set An Example
Setting a good example, especially when it comes to smoking and drinking, will help your kids make better choices later in life. If you don’t want your kids to smoke, you probably shouldn’t smoke either, especially not in the house. Remember: you are their role model, and they tend to pick up on parent’s behavior. Similarly, if you don’t want your child to drink alcohol, you shouldn’t open a bottle of wine every time you have dinner, or every day you come home from work. If you do, your child will probably associate alcohol or cigarettes with something they should be doing as well in order to relax or feel better.
