What Children Need to Know About Alcohol

In recent years, research has shown that approximately eighty percent of high school students have tried alcohol.  The majority of kids try alcohol during their high school and college years.  Although experimentation is common, it is neither safe no legal.  It is important to begin talking to children about alcohol use and abuse at an early age and before they are first approached with the opportunity to drink.  There are some steps that can be taken to help increase the chances that children will say "no" once they are presented with alcohol. 

Although preschool age children are generally too young to be considered at risk for using alcohol, it is the perfect opportunity to give children this age good problem solving skills and the ability to carry out these skills on their own.  This is also the age where children imitate adults as part of their learning process so parents can be careful to drink in moderation or not drink at all in front of these children. 

Children age's four to seven are not yet capable of comprehending the concept of the future and still learn through experiences.  It is important to keep discussions about alcohol in the present and use for examples people and places that the children already know.  This is a good age to approach alcohol use from the standpoint of good health.  It can be explained by things such as how alcohol hurts the way they see, hear, walk, gives people bad breath, upset stomachs and headaches. 

Children between the ages of eight and eleven or children in later elementary school years are the perfect age to learn about alcohol and to have their decisions about alcohol use greatly influenced.  At this age, children are hungry to learn facts and to learn how things work and are at the appropriate age to be taught the facts of alcohol use.  Children this age can also be influenced by the opinions and thoughts of their friends so it is important that they be taught about peer pressure and the need to think and act as individuals.

By the time children are teens or ages twelve to seventeen they need to be familiar with the facts about alcohol.  This time is a time to review what they have already been taught and most importantly to keep the lines of communication open with them.  During the teen years, kids have a need to challenge their parents beliefs so it is important for them to have already internalized their knowledge of alcohol and adopted it as their own.  It is also important for the parent to keep a balance between communicating about alcohol and their experiences while giving them the privacy that they crave.

Parents need to realize that the best way to influence the decisions their children make is by living as the example for them to go by.  Numerous surveys list parents as the top influencers listed by children.  In addition to leading by example, talking to children and communicating even when the topic is difficult or embarrassing is the most important thing to remember.

Alcoholism in the News

01/20/2012
Downtoearthvideo.com Is Holding a “How To Beat Alcoholism” Opening Day
Downtoearthvideo.com is holding a “how to beat alcoholism” opening day in their offices. There are many people on the site looking forward to attending.Houston, TX. (PRWEB) January 20, 2012 Downtoearthvideo.com is about to hold a “how to beat alcoholism” opening day for their readers next month. People who are struggling with an alcohol addiction can check stop by their offices and gain some ...

Downtoearthvideo.com Is Holding a “How To Beat Alcoholism” Opening Day

01/25/2012
MCA, OUP collaborate to publish Alcohol and Alcoholism journal
Oxford University Press (OUP) is pleased to announce that it has entered a new long-term collaboration with the Medical Council on Alcohol (MCA) to jointly publish the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism.

MCA, OUP collaborate to publish Alcohol and Alcoholism journal

01/30/2012
Facing up to alcoholism in foreign land can help or hinder recovery
A reader has a query about alcoholism in Japan: "How is it generally perceived and what kind of help is available for foreign alcoholics who speak little to no Japanese?" It will come as no surprise to any Japan resident to hear that alcoholism is a problem in this country, just as it is in other parts of the world. Needless to say, this disease affects not only Japanese but non-Japanese living ...

Facing up to alcoholism in foreign land can help or hinder recovery

01/17/2012
Familial alcoholism affects teen brains
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Adolescents with a family history of alcoholism experience "weaker brain response during risky decision-making" than others, U.S. researchers report.

Familial alcoholism affects teen brains

02/02/2012
US shelter uses alcohol to combat alcoholism
Controversial strategy in a Seattle homeless shelter may sound counter-productive, it has proved anything but.

US shelter uses alcohol to combat alcoholism

01/17/2012
Familial alcoholism affects teen brains
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Adolescents with a family history of alcoholism experience "weaker brain response during risky decision-making" than others, U.S. researchers report.

Familial alcoholism affects teen brains

01/16/2012
Teen brains exposed to alcoholism differ
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Early adolescents with a family history of alcoholism experience "weaker brain response during risky decision-making" than others, U.S. researchers report.

Teen brains exposed to alcoholism differ