Talking to Kids About Getting Help After Alcohol Use

Talking to kids about help for alcohol use is important. They need to know that there is somewhere they can go if they are having a problem or a friend is having a problem. There are tons of places you can tell your child about and here are some of them.

First off, let your child know that you are always there to help them. Let them know that you are there if they are using alcohol and that you will help them. Let them know that you will be a little upset of course, but that you want nothing more than the best for them and so you will be 100% supportive of them if they need help. You have to tell them that and actually do it too. Of course you will be upset if you find out your twelve year old is drinking, but you will have to recognize that the best thing to do is get help. You can’t just ignore it and pretend that he isn’t drinking because it will just get worse. Recognize the problem and deal with it.

Children need to know that you are there for them. Build your relationship by doing something together at least once a week. Spend one on one time with your child and really talk to them. It will make them more open to you and more likely to come to you with any problems they have.

Let your child know that if they aren’t comfortable talking to you that there are other places to go to. They can talk to a teacher at school or a guidance counselor, also at school. Let them know that the school has many programs to help them. They can trust in the school system to find the right people to help.

Sometimes children don’t feel comfortable talking to their own parents but will talk to a friend’s parent. If that happens, don’t worry, just understand that your child is trying to get help. Let them know that they are ok to talk to another person if they really don’t feel comfortable talking to you.

Let your child know that even a small amount of alcohol isn’t good for them. If they are drinking a lot or even a little, let your child know that they need to get help. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal, they need to be honest with their parents or someone older that they can trust. It is a huge deal and something that they shouldn’t take lightly. Encourage them to talk to someone. It is better that they talk to someone besides you than ignore the problem.

You need to be watching out for your child. If there seems to be a problem, watch your child carefully. Talk to your child and encourage them to be honest with you. Don’t just say it but mean it. They need to know that they can come to you and that you won’t freak out. Make sure that you tell your child about help for alcohol use when you are talking to them about alcohol in the first place.