If you think your son or daughter might have a drinking problem, visit madd.org/powerofparents for signs to alert you to a potential drinking problem.
DO
DON ’ T
• Discuss the problem calmly with your son or daughter. • Explain that you are concerned and willing to help. • Stay awake when your child stays out late, when possible, and show you are interested in what they are doing. • Seek professional help to handle this situation.
• Take over your child’s responsibilities. Instead, provide him or her with the means to take responsibility for himself or herself. • Argue with your son or daughter if she or he is drunk. • Make excuses or cover up for your son or daughter.
IN CONCLUSION To help keep your child safe: • Begin talking together specifically about alcohol. • Listen to your child’s concerns respectfully, and use positive parenting techniques. • Set clear no-alcohol use rules, and agree on appropriate consequences for breaking these rules. • Enforce consequences when the rules are broken. • Discuss short-term and long-term risks of underage alcohol use. • Help your child plan how to deal with social pressure to drink alcohol. • Keep track of where your child is, and with whom, on a regular basis. • Teach your child: no riding in a car with someone who has been drinking. • Make sure your child is in a monitored, alcohol-free environment. • Support school and community policies that keep alcohol away from underage youth. • Support the 21 Minimum Drinking Age law.
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Helping Kids Make Good Choices // Could Your Child Have a Drinking Problem?
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