Talking to Teens About Alcohol

Talking to teens about alcohol is hard. They seem to be miles away and concerned only about themselves. But you have to talk to them. There are so many influences out there that you don’t want your children around. Teens are extremely vulnerable and need to have the guidance of their parents. They may not always want it, but they need it. Here are some tips for talking to your teen about alcohol.

Make sure that you set the foundation years before. They need to know exactly what you expect from them. They need to know your position and they need to have that position reinforced. They also need to be taught your standards from a young age. Children start getting influenced and curious from the moment they see a commercial or someone on television using something.

Have another talk with your teen. Have them tell you what they’ve noticed and how things are for them at school. Things change all the time. High school for them is not what high school was like for you. They have tons more issues and the issues are only getting worse. You have to protect and nurture your teen. They need to know what they are up against before they encounter a problem.

Teach Your Teens About Alcohol

Teach your teen how to say no. They will be offered alcohol and other drugs. They won’t always have great friends and you have to make sure that they aren’t influenced by those not so great friends. Just because a teen might look perfect doesn’t mean they are. Role play with your teen. Make it fun, interesting, and relevant to what they would actually be going through. They will think it’s dumb so make it fun for them. It’s something they need to know is a problem.

Have weekly outings with your teen. You don’t have to spend a ton of money but go for a walk, bike ride, or go shopping with your teen. Even if it’s just to the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner. They need to know that you are there for them. Use the time to build your relationship. They will be off to college in a few short years and so you need to teach, reinforce, and build them up for that time. You don’t have to spend an hour with them. Even just fifteen minutes will be a great opportunity for you both. They need to know that you care about them and love them and not just hear you say it. You also have to show it.

Talking to your teens about serious issues is hard. They seem to be wrapped up in their own world and it seems like whatever you say will be lost and not even thought about. But it’s not really true. Teens may not say anything to you, but they do listen and do think about what you have told them about. They might not feel comfortable around you, but that’s no reason to write off talking about serious issues. You have to talk to them about the serious issues. It’s your responsibility and they need to hear it from someone that they know and love.