Parents: What You Say—and What You Do—Matters to Your Kids
St. Patrick’s Day is not only a celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, but it has also become somewhat of an accepted national drinking holiday. So why not take a moment today to think about how our own behavior with alcohol impacts the impressionable, young teens in our lives?
Kids learn the most from their parents, who are the number one influence in the lives of their children—those kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use than those who do not get those critical health messages from their parents.
Parents please remember that it is not only what you say - but also what you do - that matters in the lives of your children. And it’s important to think about how your own drinking and your “model behavior” may have a direct impact on the choices your teens make for themselves about alcohol and or other drug use.
- Did you know that one in five parents (21 percent) acknowledges that sometimes they drink too much alcohol in front of their children or teen? (Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS)study 2009, sponsored by MetLife Foundation.)
- You might also be surprised to learn that only one-third (34 percent) of parents safeguard alcohol in their own homes, even though they have underage children living with them. (PATS 2009, sponsored by MetLife Foundation.)
Your child’s attitudes will be shaped by how you communicate about alcohol and drug use and the example you set for them in your own family. Please remember that keeping your alcohol safely locked away in your home - and telling the parents of your child’s friends to do the same—can help prevent your child from engaging in risky behavior.
Have a happy, healthy and a safe St. Patrick’s Day!