How To Raise Drug-Free Children

YOU can't guarantee that your child won t become curious about drugs, nor can you protect him or her from the social pressures to use them, but by following a few preventive tips, you can reinforce your child's feelings of self-worth, and fortify the positive lifelong relationship that you share. The end result, experts say, is that your child will be far less likely to take the drug dealer's bait when you're not around.

Teach Early And Often

Don't wait until your child is a budding teenager before telling her or him about drugs. The American Council for Drug Education says this is a conversation that you should have when your child enters preschool. Children at this age are not drug users, but if parents talk to them now (at a time when the child considers adults in their life as powerful beings, and are constantly seeking their approval), you are embedding an anti-drug message into their little brains, which could make all the difference by the time your child hits puberty.

Parents should conduct the "stay away from drugs" talk as straightforwardly and as calmly as they conduct the "eat nutritious foods" and "wash your hands before dinner" talk.

Once your child enters school and develops a new eagerness to be independent and grown-up, he or she will be bombarded with messages about drugs--most of which conflict with your teachings. A parent's best bet to keeping a child safe is to focus on the here-and-now consequences of using drugs, (most children can't relate to future penalties), and to reinforce the clear rules about what is allowable at home and at school, and what is not. Finally, talk with the parents of your child's friends to make certain that their values are consistent with your own.

As children grow into adolescence, it's normal for them to doubt themselves and to be insecure about their appearance, the opposite sex, their futures, and so on. Young adolescents turn to one another for support and advice, and this "clique" defines who they are, what they should wear, and who they should talk to. It can be very threatening to see the clique's values assume so much importance in the child's life, but your child probably won't completely surrender his own powers of thought.

Adolescents are known to approach problems systematically, and to have a marked sense of right and wrong. If adolescents feel bad about themselves, or life in general, they may turn to drugs ,for a quick fix to their problems. In this situation, parents should emphasize how drugs adversely affect the things that are most important to their child--ranging from maintaining their good looks, to playing sports or even driving.

Beware of the Danger Zone

There are certain hours of the day when your child is more likely to be up to no good, warns Gwendolyn Kenner-Johnson, vice president of children's services at the YMCA Metropolitan Chicago. She advises parents to make sure their children are doing something constructive after school, before they start doing something destructive such as experimenting with drugs or alcohol.

"If children are engaged in constructive activities during the high-risk hours of 3 p.m. thru 7 p.m, they are less likely to partake in dangerous behaviors," she explains. "There is a myriad of after-school programs that children can get engaged in, everything from swimming lessons to computer-generated learning. Choose programs for your child that build character."

Parents can find an array of affordable activities for children right in the neighborhood, ranging from YMCA programs to special events at the local library, museum or sports club. Also, many churches and volunteer organizations offer after-school programs for children. Check with your child's school or other parents in the neighborhood for suggestions.

Find A Hobby

Many parents erroneously believe that their child is forced to use drugs, or was coerced by their drug-using peers. But, according to the U.S. Department of Education's publication, Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention, there are a lot of reasons children choose to use drugs. Some use drugs to relieve boredom, feel good, forget their troubles, have fun, satisfy their curiosity, take risks, ease their pain, show their independence, belong to a specific group, or just to look cool.

Parents know their child better than anyone else, and the best way to keep them from drugs is to get them involved with positive activities that they will enjoy, such as bike-riding, camping, or indoor sports. Choose an activity for your children that is tailored to their specific needs. For example, babysitting or tutoring duties could satiate a child's desire for independence, and children who love to take risks would enjoy rock-climbing or karate class.

Plan Togetherness

Whether you have an inquisitive child or rowdy teen, it's important to maintain a stable and positive relationship--and this calls for open communication. The Partnership For A Drug-Free America suggests that parents plan weekly family meetings to provide a regular forum for discussing accomplishments, complaints, disciplinary questions, and any topic of concern to any family member.