Parent’s Choice Awards for Best Teachable Moment
As we are in the midst of Awards Season, the Partnership and Time To Talk® are proud to bring you the “Parent’s Choice Awards for Best Teachable Moment.”
Talking with your kids about the risks of drug and alcohol use can be a big challenge for parents and caregivers.
One easy way is to use Teachable Moments such as popular culture, current news events or even personal experiences to start a conversation. It’s an easy way to bring up the topic of drug and alcohol use with your child – and encourage him or her to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors.
But what is the very BEST Teachable Moment? You tell us!
Vote now in Time to Talk’s “Parent’s Choice Awards for the Best Teachable Moment.”
Plus, why not share what you think was your BEST Teachable Moment with your child in the comments below…
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Newsvine6 Comments
Post a comment
Loading ...
I have been up front and honest with my kids from the day they were able to understand about the ramifications of using drugs or alcohol. I used my personal experience as well as professional to explain to them the reality of drug addiction/alcoholism and the fact that they are more susceptible to it than kids who’s parents didn’t have those issues. My kids were raised with the knowledge of both sides (practicing addict and recovering). My two oldest kids were 4 and 5 years when old when I got clean. My third one came along when I was about a year clean. They saw me staying clean and becoming that reliable parent that I wasn’t when I was still using. They also saw me go back to school and become a drug counselor. That’s how they saw both sides of it. I used every resource available to teach them about what drugs and alcohol could do them. Now they can make an informed decision on weather or not to use drugs and/or drink alcohol. One thing they will never be able to use me as an excuse for not teaching them. I will have 17 years clean next month. I thank God everyday for giving me the live tools I need to hand down to my children.
The DH and I are both in the medical profession. We talk about work at home, and often have the chance to discuss good and bad use of meds/drugs and outcomes. We also talk about prescriptions often, especially when one of us is on something–why Vicoden is OK for dad’s oral surgery, but not for a headache, etc. and what can go wrong. Drugs are a part of our jobs, so we work to de-mystify them at every chance.
I am not a mom, but rather a concerned aunt of two teenagers. Since I am relatively younger than their mom, I have taken it upon myself to talk to my niece and nephew about drugs and alcohol through examples like things I see on their FACEBOOK pages.
I have seen pictures on my 18 year-old neice’s FACEBOOK page where some of her friends are drinking and they are clearly underage.
I used this as an opportuinty to talk to her about why this is wrong, not only underage drinking, but publicizing this behavior on social networking sites for all to see…and how choices that they make now when they are young can come back to haunt them later.
—Concerned Aunt JF
Every moment with your child should be the most teachable moment. If you are fully present with your child when you are together than every moment is an opportunity to express your beliefs and feelings about drug and alcohol usage. The best learning experience for children in my belief is the way they see their parents living there lives, parenting together and being united. Helping them learn to process live, each day, each experience is what it’s all about.
This is not specific to drug and alcohol use but making good decisions about friendships. We told our daughter that she could run around with anyone that she wanted, as long as we were in control of the situation (i.e. we drove them places, sleepovers at our house) AND as long as they were not a negative influence on her. Thus, she chose her friends wisely and did not resent us as she was the one that made the choices.
My most recent teachable moment came the other day after my 4th grader participated in a Drug and Alcohol Use statewide survey. I asked about the items on the survey and we discussed some of the questions that came up for her. I was able to mention specific drugs and alcohol types and discuss my feelings and clarify our house rules. I asked about conversations that happened with friends after the survey and how their families might believe differently. We discussed ways to refuse and what to do if you’ve made a mistake. My second grader was also involved in the conversation. It turned out to be a great teachable moment and we left with the conversation door wide open!!