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FOR PARENTS ONLY:
Building Strong Families
Having a strong family bond is a protective factor that increases the likelihood that young people will develop healthy, positive attitudes and behaviors. If your children have a strong bond with you, they will be more likely to talk to you about both daily events and issues of concern. They will also be more likely to follow the guidelines that you set for them. Even though you life may be hectic, busy parents can still create a meaningful family life for themselves and their children.
Schedule Regular Family Time – Grab your family calendar and schedule your family time for this month on everyone’s calendar. Once it’s scheduled, protect it like gold. This means saying no to the last minute birthday party your son gets invited to, saying no the PTA president who desperately needs you to manage the book fair, and saying no to your boss when she asks you to work late.
Plan It – Nothing ruins a family outing more than waiting until the last minute to figure out what to do. Agree as a family ahead of time what you will do and then do it.
Make it Fun – Discuss together as a family what fun things everyone would like to do. Make sure everyone’s voice is heard and negotiate differences. If time or money is a concern, then it may be a good idea for the parents to come up with a pre-approved list from which the kids can choose.
Turn Off the TV, Video Games, and Computer - Nothing takes away from quality family time like a TV blaring in the background. Give your family a chance to connect without all the background noise and you will be amazed at the things you learn and how much you laugh.
Make it a Priority – This is the hardest thing for many families to do, but if you can accomplish this everything else will be much easier.
Family Activities
We are fortunate to live in an area where there are many of activities for families. Sit down with your kids and brainstorm a list of things you like to do together. Not everything takes money so include free activities too…..hiking Mt. Nittany, ice skating at the Penn State Ice Ring, playing board games, going to a movie, exploring Millbrook Marsh, having a picnic at Spring Creek Park, visiting the Penn State deer pens…the possibilities are endless! Post your list on the refrigerator where you can refer to it at times when you are wondering what to do.
To find out what’s currently happening, check these resources.
Centre Daily Times Family Pages
Centre Daily Times Out & About and Weekender
State College Family YMCA
Schlow Centre Region Library
Support Your Child’s Social Development
Teach your child how to form positive relationships. Research shows that the pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs comes most often from wanting to be accepted, wanting to belong, and wanting to be noticed. Help your child learn what qualities to look for in a friend, and advise him or her about what to say if offered harmful substances. Children who have difficulty making friends need your support to avoid being isolated or bullied. The articles below offer information and tips to support your child's social skills and development at a time when he is making important decisions that will affect his whole life. (Source SAMHSA: http://family.samhsa.gov/teach/ )
Steer Your Teen Away From Marijuana
“Hey, can I borrow the car keys?” If you’re the parent or caregiver of a
teen who has reached driving age, you may hear this request more often
than you would like. But a recent study might make you stop and think
before you hand the keys to your teen driver.
Bullying Escalates for Middle School Kids
Many adults know that middle school is a time of change but they may not
understand the full extent of the many challenges kids face.
Keeping Kids Out of Trouble
Parents often are challenged to find safe, properly supervised
activities for their children after school and during weekends,
vacations, and summer break—times when kids may be on their own.
Left Out
Most children at some point in their lives experience being excluded
from a party or suddenly being ignored by friends. Being rejected or
repeatedly ignored are painful for a child. As a parent, what can you do
to help your child deal with exclusion from a group or social event?
Bullying Affects All Elementary School Kids
Elementary school is an exciting time for children and parents. Going
off to school, making friends, participating in activities—there’s a lot
happening! As children interact with each other, they develop important
social skills. Learning how to interact positively with peers and other
people takes practice. On the other hand, some youth try to look tough,
be a big shot, or hurt other kids.
High Online: Kids Accessing Drugs on the Internet!
Legislators and law enforcement are finding new ways to address drugs in
cyberspace. But parents and caring adults must be on the alert to ensure
that their kids don’t buy drugs online or obtain them from other kids
who are buying them online. After all, even if your child doesn’t have
Web access, nearly 69 percent of youth ages 10 to 14 and 80 percent of
youth ages 15 to 17 do have access.
PARENTS...Countering The Problem Of Tween Drinking
Many parents don’t realize how much they can change or improve their
children’s lives, especially for tweens. However, parental involvement
can be the safety net that protects tweens from drinking during the
preteen years—years that can be confusing and difficult.
Peer Pressure: Good or Bad?
Kids say, “I want one, too.” Teenagers insist, “I gotta have it;
everyone else does.” Adults call it “peer pressure.”
Parents, Parties, and Preventing Underage Alcohol Use
Would you let your teenage son drink beer at his best friend’s birthday
party? Would you let your daughter attend a graduation party where wine
would be available to underage kids? What if a parent were chaperoning
these events?
Teach Your Child Refusal Skills
Your children face a number of tough decisions in their lives. Since
making friends and fitting in are important to many children, peer
pressure has a big impact on decisions, especially on those about drugs,
alcohol and tobacco use.
Parental Influences on Youth Substance Abuse
“The one mistake parents make is not speaking to their children
early enough. Youth, on average, begin experimenting with alcohol by age 12.”
Bill Poe, Director of Alcohol Education. PA Liquor Control Board.
You are the most powerful influence on your child’s behavioral choices. Youth, themselves, say that parents are the number one influence on whether or not they use alcohol. Young people who learn about the risks of substance use at home are 50 percent less likely to try drugs than their friends who do not get drug information from their parents.
Local Data on Youth Substance Abuse
Teen substance abuse is a number one concern for most parents. Findings of PA Youth Surveys administered to Centre County students as a part of the Communities That Care model suggest this worry is not unfounded.
Although disturbing, perhaps it’s not surprising that alcohol is the most commonly used substance. But what’s truly unnerving is the fact that the average age at which our children have their first drink is 12.6 years. That’s the age of the typical seventh grader.
The second most commonly used substance is tobacco. About one in five high school seniors reports having smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days. According to researchers, past 30-day usage of any substance is an indicator of regular use. In contrast, survey items which evaluate lifetime usage with questions such as ”Have you ever smoked?” are more likely to indicate experimental use.
Marijuana use is less common but still impacts too many of our youth. Nearly 13% of seniors report past 30-day use. Again this finding suggests regular use rather than experimentation.
Use of “harder” drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, is much less common with past 30-day use generally less than 2% for all grades. However, inhalant use rises to about 10% among 8th and 10th graders which is higher than state and nation averages. What kids don’t realize is that even a single session of “sniffing” of an ordinary household product like hairspray can cause lasting damage or death.
While these findings are alarming, trends over the past five years are in the right direction. Levels of past-30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana dropped between 2000 and 2005. We have this information thanks to Pennsylvania Youth Surveys which each of the Centre County school districts administers bi-annually. With survey findings in mind, Communities That Care has implemented research-based prevention programming that has been proven to address risk and protective factors impacting our community.
In an effort to prevent students from initiating or continuing substance use, SCASD now offer the LifeSkills Training Program. The curriculum addresses social, psychological, cognitive, and attitudinal factors associated with the initiation of early substance use. The program helps students to develop the ability to resist peer pressure and reduce their personal motivation to smoke, drink, and use drugs. Many other efforts are going on to help raise awareness of substance abuse among young people here in the Centre Region. To find out more, contact the Care Partnership at carepartnership@gmail.com.
Underage Drinking
As parents, you represent the first line of defense in the fight against underage drinking. The sooner you can talk to your children about the dangers of alcohol, the better chance they have of avoiding a problem. Since the average trial age is now as young as 12 years old, it is important to start acting now. The more involved you are in their lives, the safer your children will be for it.
Across the nation, at least nine people under the age of 21 die from alcohol-related causes every day. Underage individuals account for almost 20% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. And each day, more than 5,000 children under the age of 16 take their first taste of alcohol. These are difficult numbers to believe, but the numbers don’t lie. These insights may be the most helpful and powerful proof of alcohol’s influence on our youth. Below, we have compiled extensive research concerning underage drinking, from surveys and national statistics to reports, recommendations, and more.
Current Facts and Figures on Underage Drinking
When does the drinking begin? What effects does alcohol have on a developing mind? How does drinking lead to other problems in a child’s life? The following statistics can answer these questions and much more.
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People age 12 to 20 years drink almost 20% of all alcohol consumed in the U.S., with over 90% of this alcohol consumed in the form of high-risk drinking.
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There were over 142,000 emergency room visits by youth aged 12 to 20 years for reasons related to alcohol in 2004.
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Individuals who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who start drinking at the legal age of 21.
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Each day in the U.S., over 5,400 children under the age of 16 have their first full drink of alcohol.
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On average, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 begin to drink at 13 years old.
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48% of alcohol use reported by college and university students is consumed by those who are underage.
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It is estimated that underage drinking accounts for 12-20% of the U.S. alcohol market.
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About 10.8 million youth between the ages of 12 and 20 have had a drink in the past month.
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Three teens are killed daily while drunk driving.
· Sexually-active teenage females who participate in high-risk drinking are 63% more likely to become teen mothers.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4,554 underage deaths occur each year due to excessive alcohol use.
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Underage high-risk drinkers are more than twice as likely as non-drinkers to report having attempted to injure themselves or having contemplated or attempted to commit suicide.
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Costs associated with youth drinking are an estimated $53 billion annually (includes costs to society such as medical care costs and lost productivity, as well as costs to the underage drinker).
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One in four teenagers have attended parties where minors were drinking in front of parents.
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Nearly one in four teens have said that their parents have supplied them with alcohol.
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About one in four parents that have children age 12 to 20 agree that teens should be able to drink at home with their parents present.
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Nine out of ten parents believe that teens could most likely obtain alcohol using a fake ID, but only one-third of teens believe it would be easy.
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Alcohol use has been implicated in at least half of the rapes reported by college and university women.
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Underage youth are able to purchase alcohol in about 30-50% of purchase attempts, either from commercial sources or social sources.
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57% of underage college and university drinkers have reported paying less than $1 for a drink, got it free, or paid a set price for an unlimited number of drinks.
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One-third of high school students have reported riding with a driver who had been drinking at least once in the last month.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, American Medical Association, The University of Minnesota (Alcohol Epidemiology Program) and Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (Office of Applied Studies).
Brain Development and Early Alcohol Use
As children grow and
develop, their brains go through as many changes as the rest of their
bodies, perhaps even more. That’s why this is a crucial time to prevent
the use of alcohol. In minors, alcohol can permanently impair the
development of a wide range of functions, including memory and balance,
and can cause actual shrinking in parts of the brain.
Substance Use and the Adolescent Brain: An Overview with a Focus on Alcohol
This study from the Duke University Medical Center shows how alcohol affects adolescents differently than adults, covers various brain activities, and compares them across various age groups.
Substance Use and the Adolescent Brain: An Overview with a Focus on
Alcohol
Underage Drinking and the Developing Brain
This report, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, makes the case for an association between underage drinking and brain damage. It also states that some cognitive disorders continue in adolescent drinkers even weeks after they have stopped drinking.
Underage Drinking and the Developing Brain
Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking
The plan reported below in preventing and reducing underage drinking was developed through the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking and is built on three goals:
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Strengthen a national commitment to addressing the problem of underage drinking.
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Reduce demand for, the availability of, and access to alcohol by persons under the age of 21.
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Use research to improve the effectiveness of underage drinking prevention programs.
With adequate background on the problem and careful consideration of their goals, this report is a great starting point for the prevention and reduction of underage drinking.
A Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and Reducing Underage Drinking
Talk to your Child
How do I talk with my son or daughter about alcohol?
1. Listen
Being an effective communicator means listening to what the other person
is saying. With kids, it's important to take the time to listen to them
when they're ready to talk. Answering with “just a minute” or “later”
discourages them from opening up to you. When they want to talk, try to
devote your full attention to them, even if it means dropping what
you're doing.
Good listeners?
Try to understand your child's point of view.
Acknowledge your child's feelings, for example by saying, “I know how hard it is for you to talk to me about this, and I appreciate that you did. I'm always willing to listen to you.”
Nod your head and make eye contact to show that you are actively listening.
Ask questions. Avoid yes or no questions; instead ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think of that?” or ”What was the best part of your day?”
2. Respond
To show your child that you are listening and to encourage conversation,
say things like:
“It seems that you have some pretty strong feelings about this. How do you feel?”
“Do you mean that...?”
“So it sounds like you're saying...”
“I don't quite understand what you're saying. What do you mean?”
3. How to say it
Before you talk with your son or daughter about alcohol, think about
finding your own words, time, and place. Planning will help the
conversation go more smoothly.
4. Making time
Spending time alone with your child encourages talking. These times
don't have to be elaborate pre-planned dates; it can be times that you
are alone in the car together, taking a walk, eating, or playing
together. If you have more than one child, spend special time with each
of them individually. Older children may dominate the conversation, and
younger ones may be at a different developmental level, needing
different vocabulary and information. If your child isn't ready to open
up to you at first, give it time and patience.
5. Clear rules
Tell your kids bluntly that you do not want them drinking alcohol. Don't
assume that they know what your stance is. Set specific rules, such as:
“If you're at a party and you see drugs or alcohol being used, the rule is to leave that party. You can call me and I'll come get you.”
“I've been thinking lately that I never actually told you this: I don't want you to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or do any other illegal drugs.”
“I love you, and want the best for you, so I don't want you drinking.”
“The rule in our house is that kids don't drink.”
6. Lines kids can
use
Role-play with your child and have them practice lines they can use if
they are offered the opportunity to drink alcohol. Suggest lines like:
“No, thanks. It's not for me.”
“Why would I want to mess
up a good thing? I'm fine with the way
I am.”
“You're kidding, right? Why would I do something so dumb?”
“No way, man. Drinking is stupid.”
“Can't do it. Gotta get home.”
“I can't drink. I have a big test tomorrow.”
“I tried drinking and I threw up.”
“That's illegal. I don't want to get in trouble.”
“I have a big game tomorrow.”
“I could get kicked off the team if anyone found out.”
Source: PA Liquor Control Board http://www.dontletminorsdrink.com/parents/talk.shtml
Talking to Teens About Parties
How do I help my teen host a party without alcohol?
Checklist For Party Planning:
1. A parent should be there for the duration of the party.
Your presence will give you the opportunity to meet your child's friends, and keep the party running smoothly. When possible, keep the party in the main part of the house, so your presence will seem more natural and non-obtrusive. You may want to enlist the help of additional adults to chaperone the party; you'll have more help to keep track of what is happening, and support in the case of an emergency.
2. Do not allow any form of alcohol or drugs.
If anyone arrives at the party and appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their parents should be called immediately to ensure safe transportation home. Unruly guests, or anyone who tries to bring alcohol, should be asked to leave. YOU are liable both criminally and for damages if minors use alcohol or drugs on your property (see “What happens if I furnish or make alcohol available to minors?”).
3. Once someone leaves the party, they should not be allowed to return.
This assures that guests don't leave the party to drink, and then come back.
4. Encourage small parties.
Open house parties limit your control over what happens at the party. Make a guest list and set time limits for the party to ensure that children will be home before your local area's curfew.
5. Decide on the date and theme of the party with your child.
Set a date that is convenient for you, your child, and the guests. Look at the school calendar and make sure the party is not on a day filled with activities. Leave yourself free time before and after the party date to prepare and follow up. Theme ideas may include a luau or TV show.
6. Sit down with your child and write ground rules for the party.
This is a good opportunity for you to express your feelings and concerns about alcohol. Let your child participate in deciding rules and consequences, which may help him/her be more motivated to enforce them.
7. Define the area for the party.
Do not allow guests in bedrooms or other private rooms.
8. Send invitations.
Do not have your child distribute invitations at school, but instead find the address of each guest and send the invitations in the mail. Do not allow non-invited guests to attend the party. Talk in advance to guests who are known to drink alcohol.
9. Notify your neighbors.
Have your child contact close neighbors to let them know the date and times they can expect any minor inconveniences. Assure them that it will be chaperoned, and ask them to notify you if there is too much noise.
10. Notify police when planning a large party.
This will help to provide safety for both your guests and neighbors.
11. Plan to have plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Create a menu that your guests will enjoy. Keeping your guests satisfied with what you have provided may prevent any desire for alcohol.
12. Plan activities with your child prior to the party.
Include some of your child's close friends in the process of deciding what activities will take place. Decide on appropriate music and preview it. Have your child tell the guests beforehand what type of music you are allowing, so they will not bring inappropriate music. Activities will help keep the focus of the party away from drinking.
13. Plan for the “flow” of the party.
What will happen as guests arrive? When will they eat? When will they do the activities you planned?
14. Homes where parents are absent are frequent party sites.
When you need to be out of town, have a responsible friend or relative house sit, and make it clear to both the house sitter and your child that there should be no parties.
15. Plan for guests getting home.
Parents need to know when to pick their children up after the party. Do not plan to rely on cell phones. Make sure to plan around your local area's curfew laws.
Parents: Help Your Teens Party Right at
Graduation
Graduation is an important time in a teenager’s life: a blend of
accomplishment, relief, and stress that could cloud their judgment. That
is why it’s important to talk to them before they attend any graduation
parties where alcohol may be served. You need to make them aware of the
dangers of alcohol consumption, and that the lowering of inhibitions and
loss of memory from drinking could lead to bad decisions such as drunk
driving, fighting, vandalism, and unsafe sex. And, even worse, alcohol
poisoning could kill them.
Parents: Help Your Teens Party Right at Graduation
Source: PA Liquor Control Board http://www.dontletminorsdrink.com/parents/talk.shtml
New Statistics on Underage Drinking
Studies Show That Girls Drink More Than Boys
In 2004 alone, 1.5 million adolescent girls started using alcohol compared to only 1.29 million boys.
In 2005, 58.1 percent of males age 12 or older were current drinkers, higher than the rate for females (45.9 percent). However, among youths age 12 to 17, the percentage of females who were current drinkers (17.2 percent) was higher than that for males (15.9 percent).
Adolescent girls are more likely than boys to drink to fit in with their friends, while boys drink largely for other reasons and then join a group that also drinks.
Eighteen percent of
teenage girls reported drinking alcohol in the past month compared to
17.2 percent of teenage boys.
Average Trial Age of Alcohol
In a survey of Americans age 12 to 17, the average person took their first drink before age 13.
Every day in the United States, over 5,400 kids under age 16 have their first full drink of alcohol.
Youth who use alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to be alcohol dependent than adults whose first drink is at the legal age of 21.
Twelve- to fourteen-year-old high-risk drinkers consume 92 percent of the alcohol consumed by their age group.
In a national study, 17.1 percent of eighth-graders reported having at least one drink in the past 30 days, and 14.1 percent had been drunk at least once in the past year.
A study of 12 year olds found that children who were more aware of beer advertising expressed an intention to drink more often as adults than did children who were less knowledgeable about the ads.
A 1996 study of children age 9 to 11 found that they were more familiar with the Budweiser frogs than Tony the Tiger, the Power Rangers, or Smokey the Bear.
Sources: PA Liquor Control Board http://www.dontletminorsdrink.com/parents/talk.shtml
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3566.html
http://camy.org/factsheets/index.php?FactsheetID=5
How to Report Someone Furnishing Alcohol or Having an Underage Party
The 1-888-UNDER-21 hotline was established as a way to combat underage drinking in Pennsylvania. The truth is that someone always knows when underage drinking is going on, whether it’s another child, a parent or a concerned member of the community. For individuals who are not comfortable contacting the local police department, this hotline allows anonymous reporting of underage drinking parties that are being planned or already in progress. You can also use this hotline to report establishments that are selling or serving alcohol to those under 21 and people who are manufacturing and selling false identification.