Alcohol prevention in children and teenagers is the key to effectively winning the war on alcohol abuse. Kids that don’t drink have a huge advantage over their peers that choose to drink. There are many ways to encourage kids not to drink and to help them stop if they have already started.
The first step is to talk to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking. Don’t wait until your kids are in high school to open the lines of communication about underage drinking because it may be too late at that point. Instead, start talking with your kids when they are in elementary school about what alcohol is, why people drink it and the effects it has on a person’s body.
Once kids enter adolescence, they are likely to spend more time without adult supervision. While kids crave independence and time away from adults, it is probably not too wise to give into this want. However, requiring that your kids be supervised doesn’t mean they have to miserable or bored. Find an activity they enjoy and have them regularly participate in it. For example, if your child loves softball, sign them up for softball camps and teams. Not only will this keep them supervised and safe, it will improve their athletic skills which will boost their self esteem.
With support, guidance and supervision, your child will hopefully not feel the pressure to drink that all too often comes along with being a teenager. Make sure your child knows you are there to talk to them, keep them busy and active and you will be well on your way to helping your child avoid the pitfalls of underage drinking.