Parents Today

By the time your child reaches the age of nine or ten, you’ve probably taught him or her right from wrong, basic safety rules, good health habits and how to make friends and get along with others. You’ve already done a lot of good things. Before your child becomes a teenager, you also should enhance the communication skills you already have to increase the chances of keeping your child drug-free.

This booklet provides ideas and examples about the skills busy parents can use to keep their children off drugs. Read this booklet and let it guide you as you go about your daily activities.

There are opportunities every day to turn ordinary times like driving your child to practice or doing household chores together into teachable moments to let your child know what’s important to you. As your kids move from elementary school through middle school and on to high school, it's important to keep talking to them about the harm that drugs, tobacco and underage drinking can do to their young lives. Just a little of your time every once in a while can make a lifetime of difference.

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