Parenting: How to Deal with Teen Drinking- Part I
by Dr. Coach Love
We feel we have been lucky with our kids. With one each in middle school and high school and a third heading away to college, we have not seen any drinking problems — – yet.
We are concerned that our youngest child may be different and that our oldest
may begin drinking while away at college. We want to be sure we are doing
all we can. Any tips?
________________________________________________________________
Most people would agree that the statistics on teen drinking are too high—no matter how you look at the data. Consider these questions:
Is it fun? Is it dangerous? Do all or most teens drink? The answers to these questions are maybe yes and maybe no. But the answers are a resounding “YES” and “YES” to “Is teen drinking illegal in the United States?” and “Is it developmentally a bad idea for teens to drink?”
Ë For teens, age is just a temporary technicality.
Most need a better reason not to drink.
No matter how dedicated a parent you are, your kids will make their own choices about drinking. That is, they will drink or not drink in spite of what you do or say — –
if they want to do so. Peer influence is a factor, but kids who want to start drinking, choose friends who are drinking. Teens who do not want to drink may
take an observing role or choose another peer group.
Although you can not control your children’s choices, do not give up. As parents, you have a responsibility and huge potential to influence their choices. Work actively to use your influence to steer your kids away from underage drinking.
The three-stage model of parenting regarding underage use of alcohol is
education, prevention, and intervention. Education starts very early and is ongoing. Prevention efforts should begin prior to middle school. Firm intervention must occur at the first signs of under age alcohol use.
Implementation of this model represents ideal parenting. How many of us are in life situations where we can practice ideal parenting? Personalities collide, financial stress impacts, single parenting conflicts, job demands, and the 24/7 we have each week seems to melt away in too many directions.
Yet under age drinking (and supervision of teens in general) is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. Equally important to meeting this parenting challenge are parent skills
and role modeling.
For more ideas on how to deal with teen drinking, complete my quiz on
Underage Drinking and check back for Part 2.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Regards,
Dr. Coach Love
MORE INFO LINKS:Lists-7 Intervention Tips for Under Age Drinking,
9 Prevention Tips for Under Age Drinking
Posts- Pt2 5-18-08, Pt3 5-19-08, Pt4 5-23-08;
Quizzes- Underage Drinking &Teen Drinking Choices
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© Copyright 2008 P.H. Pickett, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Reprint with permission.
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