Tips for Parents

As a Parent, YOU MATTER!!!! Following these tips will ensure that your child remains drug-free:

START: It’s never too early to prevent your child from trying drugs.

CONNECT: Take every opportunity to build lines of communication with your children.

LISTEN: Take an active interest in what is going on in your child's life.

LEARN: Children today are sophisticated. In order to educate your child about the danger of drugs, you need to educate yourself first.

EDUCATE: Spend at least thirty minutes with your kids every month explaining, with simple facts, how drugs and alcohol can hurt youngsters and destroy their dreams.

CARE: Spend at least a few minutes each day telling and showing your children that you care.

BE AWARE: Look for the warning signs that your child may be developing a substance-abuse problem and get help before the problem occurs.

SET LIMITS: By setting limits on what is acceptable behavior, you show your children you care and help guide them to a safer, drug-free future.

GET INVOLVED: Effective prevention extends beyond the home into the community. Get involved in your community.

LEAD: Young people are as aware of what you do as much as what you say. Don't just say the right things; do the right things. Set a good example.

SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN --- REMEMBER EACH MINUTE YOU SPEND IS PRICELESS

Encourage inner strength

Knowledge that you will get through it

Safe secure environment

Opportunity to take risks with support

Learn the skills of risk taking, OK to be wrong, to fail

Promote self-esteem

Let them see their own beauty

Sharing & supporting - walking beside to give that strength

Not exerting pressure or expectations, expectations can be limiting

Help develop confidence

Being an individual and a group member

Encourage assertiveness

Knowing when to say "No"

Being able to focus

Being able to analyze the situation

KIDS WHO ARE CLOSE TO THEIR PARENTS ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. THE MORE INVOLVED YOU ARE IN YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES, THE MORE VALUED THEY'LL FEEL, AND THE MORE LIKELY THEY'LL BE TO RESPOND TO YOU. TRY TO SCHEDULE REGULAR GET-TOGETHERS WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

1. ESTABLISH "TOGETHER TIME."

2. HAVE FAMILY MEETINGS.

3. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE GOING, WHOM THEY'LL BE WITH AND WHAT THEY'LL BE DOING.

4. TRY TO BE THERE AFTER SCHOOL.

5. EAT MEALS TOGETHER AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

Kids today are growing up with more stressors and

pressures then ever before. That is why it is crucial

that parents take on this role and become more involved

in their child's life. By doing so it can make a world of

difference in a child's life.

10 Tips for Creating More Family Time

Children who have strong bonds with their families and school are least at risk of using alcohol and other drugs. Many of the things you can do to strengthen these bonds - such as showing warmth and affection - are based on common sense. You may find these ideas helpful in strengthening existing bonds - and even creating new bonds with your children.

1. Be a Good Listener

Let your children know they can always come to you with their problems. Show respect for your child's concerns. Establish eye contact with your child when they are talking to you. If you are busy working on an activity of your own, set it aside so your child will have your full attention. Offer encouragement to help your children share ideas and ask questions.

2. Show sincere interest in schoolwork and activities.

Find common interests to talk about relating to school. Ask your children to show their schoolwork and proudly display their projects. Give them compliments and offer help when it's needed. Remember your child may not excel in the same subjects you enjoyed in school - allow them to find their own likes and dislikes.

3. Help To Set Realistic Goals

Children are more likely to succeed when goals are short-term so they don't lose interest. The best goals are easy enough for them to accomplish, yet challenging enough so that they will grow. Praise your children for their efforts and avoid too much pressure. Don't demand that your child always be the best. Remember, we all have off days.

4. Set Aside Time Just For Your Children

Plan ahead so you can spend quality time with your children, especially on holidays and special occasions. Try to find opportunities to spend time alone with each child individually. If you're too busy or tired to spend time with your children, explain the reason and arrange another time.

5. Do things together as a family

Look for family activities that don't involve watching television or spending money. There are lots of opportunities - playing a game, reading a book, going for a bike ride, building or baking something. Many cost nothing, but the rewards are great. Keep in mind that regular family meetings are a good idea so you can talk over plans as well as any problems.

6. Family Workday

Assigning chores helps children learn to be responsible. Making chores a family event fosters teamwork and creates time to spend with children and accomplish weekend work. Working together also teaches the dependence of families on the contributions of each other.

7. Show affection often.

Don't assume your children know they are loved. Remember, a word, a smile or a hug from you can make a huge difference. Children are never too old to be told that they are loved.

8. Develop your child's sense of well-being.

Encourage them to be active, both physically and mentally. This can be as simple as getting them outdoors away from the T.V. or reading a story together. Nurture your children's interests in new sports, hobbies and activities.

9. Teach decision-making and problem-solving skills.

You can help your children learn these skills as they face day-to-day decisions. For example, your child may have a conflict with two activities. Talk about the pros and cons of each choice, and then let your child make the decision.

10. Get to know your children's friends and friends' parents.

Call and introduce yourself. Stay in touch; share ideas and support. Communicate with other parents to make sure children's activities are always supervised.

Just talking to your child is only half the job. You can keep the lines of communication open by knowing how to listen and when to talk.

Your child will tell you about the sights and sounds that influence them every day --- they are experts about fashion, music, TV, and movies that people their age follow.

Ask your child what music and what music groups are popular and what their songs are about, what their friends like to do after school, what's cool and what's not and why. Encourage your child with phrases such as "That's interesting" or "I didn't know that", and by asking follow-up questions.

Try these tips:

1. Encourage your children to feel comfortable telling you about problems they may be having and asking you for help.

2. You might try rephrasing a child's comments to indicate that you have understood or give nonverbal support and encouragement by nodding and smiling.

3. Use a caring tone of voice to answer a child and use encouraging phrases to express interest and to keep the conversation going.

101 WAYS TO PRAISE A CHILD

WOW * WAY TO GO * SUPER * YOU'RE SPECIAL * OUTSTANDING * EXCELLENT * GREAT * GOOD * NEAT * WELL DONE * REMARKABLE * I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT * I'M PROUD OF YOU * FANTASTIC * SUPERSTAR * NICE WORK * LOOKING GOOD * YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT * BEAUTIFUL * NOW YOU'RE FLYING * YOU'RE CATCHING ON * NOW YOU'VE GOT IT * YOU'RE INCREDIBLE * BRAVO * YOU'RE FANTASTIC * HURRAY FOR YOU * YOU'RE ON TARGET * YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY * HOW NICE * HOW SMART * GOOD JOB * THAT'S INCREDIBLE * HOT DOG * DYNAMITE * YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL * YOU'RE UNIQUE * NOTHING CAN STOP YOU NOW * GOOD FOR YOU * I LIKE YOU * YOU'RE A WINNER * REMARKABLE JOB * BEAUTIFUL WORK * SPECTACULAR * YOU'RE SPECTACULAR * YOU'RE DARLING * YOU'RE PRECIOUS * GREAT DISCOVERY * YOU'VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET * YOU FIGURED IT OUT * FANTASTIC JOB * HIP, HIP HURRAY * BINGO * MAGNIFICENT * MARVELOUS * TERRIFIC * YOU'RE IMPORTANT * PHENOMENAL * YOU'RE SENSATIONAL * SUPER WORK * CREATIVE JOB * SUPER JOB * FANTASTIC JOB * EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE * YOU'RE A REAL TROOPER * YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE * YOU ARE EXCITING * YOU LEARNED IT RIGHT * WHAT AN IMAGINATION * WHAT A GOOD LISTENER * YOU ARE FUN * YOU'RE GROWING UP * YOU TRIED HARD * YOU CARE * BEAUTIFUL SHARING * OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE * YOU'RE A GOOD FRIEND * I TRUST YOU * YOU'RE IMPORTANT * YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME * YOU MAKE ME HAPPY * YOU BELONG * YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND * YOU MAKE ME LAUGH * YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY * I RESPECT YOU * YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME * THAT'S CORRECT * YOU'RE A JOY * YOU'RE A TREASURE * YOU'RE WONDERFUL * YOU'RE PERFECT * AWESOME * A+ JOB * YOU'RE "A-OK", MY BUDDY * YOU MADE MY DAY * THAT'S THE BEST * A BIG HUG * A BIG KISS * SAY I LOVE YOU * P.S. REMEMBER, A SMILE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS.

Is Your Child Under STRESS?

How can you tell if your child is under stress? Some signs of stress among young people include:

Low self-esteem

Little energy

Short attention span

Often sleepy

Inactive

Often misbehaves

Angers easily

Fights frequently

Easily frustrated

Change in eating habits

Mood swings

Change in appearance and personal hygiene

There are many ways you as a parent can help reduce the stress in your child's life. Some of these include:

1. Allow your child to express their feelings and concerns.

2. Promote good nutrition and exercise during the early years so that these become habits for a lifetime.

3. Let the child you care for know that you also experience pain, fear, anger, and nervousness.

4. Look at your own coping skills to see if you are setting a good example.

5. Set goals based on the child's ability --- not on someone else's expectations.

6. Teach them the value of forgiveness of others and themselves.

7. Don't tire your child out by having too many activities all at once.

8. Establish a special time each day just for the two of you.

9. Show confidence in your child's ability to handle problems and tackle new challenges.

10. Help your child learn from mistakes and learn to forgive.

Parenting Tips --- Positive Ways to Manage Stress

Let's face it being a parent is stressful! There's so much to do to be a good parent that it's often difficult to attend to your own needs. Here are a few positive ways for parents to cope with stress.

Get your children to bed early - consistently. That will give you some adult time. If they're not tired, you may want to stop their afternoon naps at home or day care.

Exercise! Regular exercise relieves stress. It can improve your overall health and stamina, and can set a good example for your kids. Exercising as a family can be fun, too. The family that plays together stays together.

Know what your kids watch on television. Talk with them about the shows they watch. Explain why a show is - or isn't - right for them. Make TV watching a special family activity.

Spend time out at least once a month without your children. It's good for the kids to be with other caretakers from time to time. And it's good for you. Remember - parents need to take time for themselves.

Try to connect honestly with other parents about your concerns and struggles. Vent your anger, get support and ideas. IT may be tough to do, but it will make you feel better.

Remember your own childhood, and some positive moments you shared with your parents. Do the same activity with your kids. If you realize how important those moments were to you, it will help you create similar ones for your children.

Recognize how relaxed you feel after you do take care of yourself. When you're relaxed, it's easier to parent!

For more information please contact your local Prevention office at (618) 533-2030.

April Hardy - Prevention Coordinator

Yvette Glasgow - Prevention Specialist

Marcia Stinde - Prevention Specialist

Jessica Palazzolo - Prevention Specialist

Annie Holtkamp - Prevention Specialist