‘Tis the season. Holiday bells are ringing, lights are twinkling, and kids are out of school for two weeks! Odds are your family life is very busy right now. Thinking ahead to those two weeks with children at home can be far down at the bottom of the list next to remembering to drink those eight glasses of water a day. The reality of this time of year, with all the parties and get-togethers and family gatherings, is that often many of those festivities involve alcohol and other substances. So to help, MHYP has put together a list of 10 things you can do this holiday season to keep your tweens and teens safe and enjoying the fun substance-free.
Just Say KNOW. As parents and caregivers, we can educate ourselves about the current environment our kids are facing around drugs and alcohol. This prepares us to have frequent conversations during car trips and more time together. Visit letstalkmarin.org for downloadable booklets for parents of tweens and teens and recordings of all our speaker events.
Keep your home a "no underage drinking" zone. Send the message that the health and safety of your child and their friends is a priority by making the parent commitment at betheinfluence.us.
Model healthy behaviors around substances. Campaigns like Raising the Bar remind parents to skip the alcohol at youth-focused events and activities (i.e. youth sports, birthdays, halloween, prom, youth holiday gatherings, etc…)
Practice healthy activities together. The Numb or Nourish campaign has tips and methods for making and modeling healthy decision making.
Talk to your teen about having a game plan when going out in order to navigate the situations they might find themselves in. Let them know you will be checking in on them. Give them an “out”.
Connect with your child’s friends’ parents and keep that line of communication open. Most parents welcome receiving a text confirming plans.
Set expectations and consequences ahead of time with your teen so everyone understands what is at stake.
Be clear about the importance of sober driving for both adults and teens – which includes alcohol, THC products, some prescription and over-the-counter medication, and illicit drugs. Read tips on talking to your kids about impaired driving.
Let your child(ren) know you are always there for them. Connection is a key protective factor. We often forget the turmoil our teens can be experiencing and how they need safety and reassurance at the same time they seem to be pushing us away.
Be brave. It's difficult to go against community norms that support the high rates of underage drinking in our community. Know that you are not alone in your commitment to create a safer, healthier environment for your kids and their peers.