Drug Use Talk With Your Children...the What and When

When should you begin talking with your child about drugs? Begin talking to your preschoolers about developing healthy habits. Yes, you read that right Preschoolers. I suggest starting this young because they are of an age that they still see you as all knowing and all powerful. School-aged children are beginning to care about what their friends have to say, but they do appreciate having you set boundaries. They wouldn’t clue you into that fact, so don’t bother asking them. This is a good time to talk to them about what makes a good friend and how they can attract loyal friends. They are still willing to listen to what you have to say and the friendships that they are building now will become all important in young adolescence when peer pressure rears its ugly head. Young adolescents (age 10-15) are in a period of great insecurity and self doubt. They are vulnerable to peer pressure and drawn to quick fixes like alcohol or drugs. This a good time to change your approach when it comes to talks about drugs. Begin emphasizing the affects that drugs have on the things that they care about: their looks, sports and driving. They may just pay attention.