Holidays Are a Great Time to Talk to Your Kids!
Alcohol is a part of many holiday traditions as folks enjoy a
festive cocktail or toast in the New Year with friends and family. It’s fine
for adults who are drinking responsibly, but it is important to remember that
children are careful observers of adult behavior. With this in mind, the
holidays are a great time to talk with your children about drinking alcohol.
You want your children to be well-informed and that means
knowing the risk of drinking alcohol long before they are tempted or faced with
peer pressure. Tell them about the dangerous effects of alcohol on their
developing brain. Explain that the teen brain is still growing and changing
until about the age of 24. Alcohol can cause permanent damage during this
crucial developmental period. Repeated exposure to alcohol during adolescence
can have long term negative effects on the brain, especially for mood and judgement.
It could critically affect teens’ ability to perform tasks, such as driving,
doing math, and competing in sports.
Always remember that, as a parent, YOU play a major role in
shaping your kids’ attitudes towards alcohol. Be firm that you don’t want your
children drinking AT ALL!
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