It's natural for kids to be curious about alcohol – they see people around them drinking, they see ads and movies - and they want to learn more. Children are affected by many factors – friends, teachers, and the media... But most of the time, parents are the ones who have the most influence on their children's behavior, and that includes the way children approach alcohol. As a parent, everything you say and do affects your child significantly. If you talk to them early about alcohol, you will help your children understand what alcohol is and what its consequences are. This means that parents have to discuss the matter with their children and agree on some rules that the family should abide by.
According to surveys, 4 areas of good parenting practice help delay the start of underage drinking and limit its size.
- The first concerns the family warmth and emotional support of parents for their children.
- The second relates to parental control, with the application of clear and logical rules such as when children return home from an outing with friends.
- The time children and parents spent together is of great importance, as is the involvement of parents in the lives of their children and the encouragement of parents so that the children will be involved in acceptable social and/or sporting activities.
- Finally, good communication between children and parents is extremely important.