Here’s a sobering statistic – 21% of young people say they have tried alcohol at least once by age 13. So what can parents do to protect their children?
According to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics — that 21% increases to 79% by the time they reach 12th grade. The problem becomes worse when those young people begin to abuse alcohol. Binge drinking can cause heart or liver disease and can lead to death from alcohol poisoning.
We know the dangers….but here are some ideas from Parents Empowered, an educational campaign to reduce underage drinking, on keeping your children away from alcohol…
First, Talk to them. The AAP report noted that 80 percent of teenagers say their parents as their biggest influence on whether they choose to drink, and parents can help those children stay away from alcohol.
Second, Set firm rules. Parents Empowered advises parents to set clear rules about no drinking and to establish firm consequences if they break those rules.
Next, Get to know your child’s friends. The greatest risk factor in getting a child to drink is having a best friend who drinks.
Then, Be a good role model. The second greatest risk factor that leads to underage drinking is seeing dysfunctional drinking at home.
Also, Encourage healthy activities. One study found that being involved in extracurricular activities significantly reduces teenage alcohol and drug use.
Finally, Strengthen your child’s faith. It’s a fact, teens with strong religious worldviews were less likely to have drunk alcohol in the previous six months compared to nonreligious teens