The kids are back to school and routines have turned to homework, extracurricular activities and possibly new friendships.
As a parent, it is important to know your child’s friends. Make an effort to meet their friends, know where they live, and know their parents. Continue to be active and aware of your child’s surroundings.
When you hold family meetings, be sure to create an atmosphere so your child feels comfortable sharing things with you. It is important as a parent to keep the flow of communication open so your child can come to you and express their concerns and ask for help. This is especially vital if your child suspects that one of their friends may be using drugs or alcohol.
Continue to encourage your child to resist peer pressure and let them know they made a good decision to approach you with their concerns about their friend. Take the necessary next steps to help your child deal with their concerns and learn how to best approach the topic without your child being fearful of getting the friend in trouble. For more information on how to continue encouraging talks, please visit DrugFreeAZKids.org.
Make sure to check back next week, as we will explore the topic of how to approach a parent about their child using drugs or alcohol.
