Parenting for Prevention

If you could do one thing that would help your child succeed in school, live a healthier life, and develop his or her fullest potential, would you do it? Your child is an individual with hopes, fears, likes, dislikes and special talents. The more you know about your child, the easier it will be to guide him or her to positive activities and friendships. As a result, your child will be less likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. Establishing a close relationship with your child now will make it easier for him or her to come to you when he or she has a problem.

Connection is key to prevention

Learn ways to increase your connection with your own kids, increase their connections to their community and other positive role models.
Here are six key things you can do to help your child of any age grow up drug free.

Talking Tips for Mental Health & Screen Time

Establish and maintain good
communications with your child

  • Take this quiz to see how well you know your child! 

  • Set aside a few minutes a day to talk.

  • Validate your child’s feelings.

  • Practice active listening.

  • Ask questions.

Make clear rules and enforce them
with consistency and appropriate consequences

  • Discuss your rules and expectations in advance

  • Follow through with consequences you have established.

  • Acknowledge when they follow the rules.

  • Discuss why using tobacco and illegal drugs and underage drinking are not acceptable.

Teach your child to choose friends wisely

  • Establish the clear message that you, as a caring adult, do not want them to use alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

  • Help your child practice resisting peer pressure.

  • Help your child feel comfortable in social situations.

  • Teach your child to analyze media messages.

Get involved in your child’s life

  • Spend at least 15 minutes a day doing something your child wants to do.

  • Identify at least one opportunity beach week for you and your child do something special together.

  • Support your child’s activities.

  • Recognize good behavior consistently and immediately.

  • Use meal times as opportunities to share news of the day or to discuss current affairs.

Be a positive role model

  • Do not engage in illegal, unhealthy, or dangerous drug use.

  • Don’t involve your child in your use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs.

  • When possible, point out examples of bad behavior linked to substance use or abuse and the consequences.

Monitor your child’s activities

  • Establish relationships with your child’s friends.

  • Get to know other parents.

  • When your child goes out, make sure you know where he’s going, who he’ll be with, and what he’ll be doing.

  • Have your child check in at regular times and make it easy for her to contact you.

  • Make sure your child has access to enjoyable, drug-free structured activities.

We encourage you to check out this document which includes great guiding activities from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Keeping your Kids Drug Free.

For additional parenting tips for all the stage of development check out this page on the CDC website cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting

 Here is another great resource to increase the chances of your child Growing up Drug Free!