Now is the right time to become more perceptive to the messages your child is receiving about alcohol, the impacts, and how you can mold the messages you send going forward to support healthy decision-making. Peer pressure to drink alcohol does not usually start until the ages of 11-14. Yet, children receive messages and modeling throughout childhood that will have an impact on whether or not they’ll be ready to make responsible decisions about alcohol in future years. As a parent or those in a parenting role, what you model and the messages you send about alcohol in your child’s early years can prepare them for healthy choices and success as they grow. 

Now is the right time to become more attuned to the messages your child receives about cannabis, the impacts on your child, and how you can shape the messages you send in the future to encourage healthy choices. Peer pressure to try cannabis does not typically begin until ages 15-19. Yet, children receive messages and view modeling throughout their childhood that will have a significant impact on whether or not they will be ready to make responsible choices regarding cannabis in years to come.  As a parent or those in a parenting role, what you model and the messages you send in your child’s younger years related to cannabis can prepare them for success throughout their lifetime. 

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play a paramount role in helping your child develop empathy. Empathy is the way that people relate to one another effectively. It’s the ability to perceive what others are feeling, comprehend that information, and respond in a compassionate manner. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship while expanding your child’s capacity for empathy from the time they are born through their teen years. Empathy is critical for your child to experience happy healthy relationships. It allows for emotional connection to others starting early with family and friends and extending as they develop successful school, social, work, and even romantic relationships.

Ten-year-olds understand what it means to act responsibly. They are: 

● working to understand rules and apply them in multiple settings. 

● working to grow their independence. 

● progressively taking care of their bodies (eating right, exercising). 

● learning to grow healthy relationships (managing their feelings and impulses, empathizing and working through conflict, being dependable, and keeping promises).

● prioritizing extracurricular activities and homework, and 

● contributing to their household (completing chores, cooperating with rules and expectations). 

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play a valuable role in your child’s growth and success. There are intentional ways to nurture a healthy parent-child relationship, and daily routines provide an ideal opportunity.

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play a valuable role in your child’s life and success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and growing your child’s skills to manage conflict provides a worthwhile opportunity.

Experiencing stress is part of life for adults and children. Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as being yelled at by a frustrated sibling or forgetting to bring an important paper to school. Feelings of stress are natural mechanisms for human survival and success. These feelings are the body’s way of sending a warning when there is a threat and pointing your attention to problems that need to be addressed. A stressor can be one-time or ongoing.  Anxiety is the body’s reaction to stress and can occur even if there is no current threat. If anxiety persists, it can begin to interfere with everyday life and impact your child’s health. As a parent or those in a parenting role, you can assist your child in learning to identify and manage their stress- a critical skill they will use for a lifetime.