Talking to your preschooler about drugs and alcohol
Beginning the discussion about drugs with your preschooler may seem premature, but research shows that discussion between parents and their children about drugs and alcohol is one of the main ways to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. Different topics should be discussed at different ages and teaching kids about these things will open the doors for healthy discussions as your children grow and mature.
When talking to your preschool aged child:
- Discuss with your child why we need to put healthy things into our bodies. Talk about how good they feel when they eat a nutritious meal, get enough sleep, and take care of their body. Talk about how a healthy child can run, jump, and play for hours on end. Have your child name several favorite good foods and explain how these foods contribute to health and strength.
- Set aside regular times when you can give your child your full attention. Turn off the phones and other devices that distract you. Get on the floor and play; get to know them; let them know that you love them. Doing this will build strong bonds of trust and affection that will make turning away from drugs easier in future years.
- Provide guidelines and rules. For instance, teach about playing fair, sharing toys, and telling the truth, so they know what kind of behavior you expect from them. Encourage your child to follow instructions and to ask questions if they do not understand the instructions. Help your child understand the importance of following and understanding rules.
- Help them make their own choices. Whenever possible, let your child choose what to wear. Even if the clothes don’t quite match, you are reinforcing your child’s ability to make decisions.
- Explain that medicine can help people but can be harmful if taken incorrectly. Teach them that they should only allow adults in charge of them (mom, dad, grandparents, doctors, and babysitters for example) to give them medicine. Teach your child about dangerous substances in the environment. Point out poisonous substances in your home, such as bleach or kitchen cleansers, and read the product warning labels out loud to your child. Explain that harmful substances don’t always come with such “warnings,” and that your child should only ingest a food or prescribed medication that you, a relative, or other known caregiver has given them.
During the preschool ages of 3-5, children have strong ties to their family and seek their parents’ approval. This is a great time to teach kids about good nutrition, proper hygiene, and developing a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a good time to help children develop the decision-making and problem-solving skills they’ll need later in life. Although they are old enough to understand that smoking is bad for them, they’re not ready for complicated facts about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. However, they can practice the decision-making and problem-solving skills that they will need to say “no” later on. These skills will help them to stop and think before engaging in risky or dangerous behaviors related to drugs and alcohol as they grow.