Enough With The Lectures! How to talk to your kids about drugs, alcohol and vaping so they’ll lis...

When it comes to drug and alcohol use, it’s very tempting as parents to put your head in the sand and say "Not my kid” but that strategy never works, even if your kid isn’t actively experimenting (yet.) Since the most important component of prevention is education, the first step for parents is to get educated and be honest with yourself. In this episode we’ll talk about what you need to know as a parent to effectively communicate your values and concerns to your kids, without them shutting you down. When do kids commonly start experimenting with drugs and alcohol? Should you start having conversations with your kids before then? How do you explain the difference between abstaining vs. postponing? We’ll talk about how to navigate denial (both yours and your child’s) and what are the pros and cons of using monitoring and tracking apps like Life360. And with so much at stake, when is it okay to allow natural consequences and when should you step in? This episode will give your practical advice on how to navigate this potential minefield, and keep your relationship with your kid intact.