Tweens are at a very confusing age when they want to act older than they are to impress peers. If your child is offered drugs to be part of a crowd, what will he say?
Talking to kids about drugs is a topic that most parents wish they did not have to embrace. Unfortunately, our liberal society has pushed drugs in front of our children at an early age, so it is necessary to communicate about this with your child as soon as possible.
Communication with you, the parent, will have a big impact on whether or not your child will experiment with drugs at some point in his life. Of course, by the age of 11 to 12 years, your child should be able to discern right from wrong, but reacting under pressure can be a whole new ballgame for him. Here are some ways to assure that your child will say "no," if ever approached about using drugs.
Be a Good Listener - If you are a really good listener, your child will feel comfortable coming to you to talk about sensitive situations. Being a good listener is a way of showing respect for your child's feelings, too. If he feels like you are genuinely interested in his affairs, he will open up to you in good times and bad times.
Know Your Stuff - In order for your child to trust your advice, you have to know the facts. He can get all kinds of advice from peers, which may or may not be true, but when he comes to you, he wants to be sure that he is receiving accurate information. Read up about drug prevention at D.A.R.E. to be on your mark.
Be Positive - While it is important to tell your child the bad effects that drugs can have on your system and mental state-of-being, it is also as important to accentuate the positive things that he can do to avoid peer pressure. Be frank in your discussions. Don't dance around the topic and be afraid to look your child in the eye. If you act confident in discussing this issue with your child, he will catch those vibes and have a better chance of being confident enough in himself to say no. It always comes back to the parent being the role model.
Be Submissive - If you are not comfortable with talking about drugs with your tween due to lack of information about the topic, give his pediatrician or school counselor a call. They will help you with facts, and be glad to have a parent concerned enough about their child's welfare to consult with them first.
