Starting a conversation about drugs with children can be difficult and awkward. However, communication between parents and children about this difficult topic is one of the most important protective and preventative factors. Below, we have a few easy steps for tough conversations with kids to get you started.
It may seem early, but starting these conversations with elementary school children is appropriate. Youth can experiment with drugs and alcohol, even in elementary school. This is a great time to start clearly communicating about your family’s expectations around drug and alcohol use.
These topics can be hard to discuss, so having a solid relationship with your child can help ensure that youth follow the standards you set as a family. EveryDay Strong is a mental health initiative in Utah County that aims to give parents the tools they need to create meaningful relationships with their children. One important way to improve relationships is to focus on the needs of the child.
5 Easy Steps for Tough Conversations with Kids
1. First, the base is physical needs, which includes basic needs such as food, water, or sleep.
2. The following section is safety. This goes beyond physical safety, but emotional safety as well. Is the child safe to feel or fail? Are they safe to be themselves?
3. Next is connection. Do they have meaningful connections with the adults in their lives? Do they have friends or teachers who care about them?
4. After this is confidence. This is a child’s belief in their own abilities to be successful.
5. Once these needs are fully met, only then will a child thrive.
This perspective can be applied to all situations regarding our children and teenagers. When we’re faced with the challenge of talking to our children about drugs, here are 3 questions to ask yourself to ensure the conversation is positive for both parent and child.
3 Questions to Ask About Your Child
- Do they feel safe? The best way to have an open and honest conversation about drugs with our children is to ensure they have a safe environment. This means that they are safe to express their concerns and questions without judgement. Providing this safe environment for them to completely be themselves, regardless of their mistakes. This will foster an environment where our children feel like they can come to us about their struggles, instead of using unhealthy coping methods, such as drug use.
- Do they have meaningful connections? Authentic connection is necessary before our children can have a meaningful conversation with us. It is important to note that connection can take many forms. It does not have to mean an expensive family vacation. Rather, it means the simple and consistent effort parents make each day to connect with that child.
- Are they confident in their own abilities? The best way to foster confidence is to express it. If you want your child to feel confident about their decisions, make sure to express how proud you are of them and how much you believe in them. If you believe they can get through difficult times and decisions, they will.
When a child has these three things, it is very likely that these difficult conversations will be a positive experience and bring parents and children closer together. It’s also more likely that they will follow the standards that you set as a family.
Having consistent communication with our children is key to fostering an environment that is conducive to building strong relationships and ultimately preventing drug use.
Guest Post By: Meghan Nelson