Teachable Moments

Experts like Dr. Cunningham suggest that any moment can be a teachable moment. When you decide to use a moment to teach your child something about drugs, it doesn’t have to be a long, serious talk — just a few words can do. And it’s not a talk you have only once. Have it regularly.

Some examples of teachable moments might be when you’re:

• Having fun. One mother said, “I go for walks with my girls and everything just comes right out.”
  
• Discussing books or movies with your kids.
  
• Doing regular chores together.
  
• Eating dinner together as a family.

Just hanging out … reading, cooking a meal, going fishing, listening to music, watching a ball game, singing together, playing chess or having a family picnic.

When your kids are in school, it’s a good time to start using teachable moments to warn them about inhalants. Some kids sniff gasoline, nail polish remover or the fumes from shaving cream cans to get high, and they can die any time they use them — the first or the 50^th time.

Tell your preteens how marijuana interferes with concentrating on schoolwork and their ability to play sports. If they don’t hear about drugs and alcohol from you, it’s a sure thing that they’ll hear about them from someone else. Make certain that they understand the legal trouble they can get into when it comes to drug use.

Also remember that you are your child’s most important role model. They notice everything you do. When your children see you drink or do drugs, they might think it’s OK for them. If you make jokes about getting drunk or using drugs, or if you allow minors to drink in your home, your child might think that alcohol or drugs are not to be taken seriously.

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