Hi. I have a 6 yr old first grade boy and a 4.5 yr old boy. Next week at my 1st graders school is drug awaremess week and this will be the first time he hears about drugs. He is still very innocent. My husband might have an occasional beer but that's the extent to our kids exposure to drugs/alcohol. I thought it would be good for him to hear about drugs/alcohol from his momd and dad before he hears about it at school, don't you think? How and what would you tell a 6 yr old about this subject?
i only learned about drugs from school my parents never talked to me about them. defiantly explain to him that you do not want him to take drugs or be around kids that use drugs. you can explain about smoking and drinking how they are legal. if you can attend the first meeting at the school you should. once your son comes home you can answer questions and have another talk about it.
I would, without being accusatory, see if you can find out info about what the program is going to be about. My guess is that it's focusing much less on the actual drugs themselves and is more about making good choices, staying safe, staying healthy, and what to do if someone at home is using drugs and alcohol. If that's the case, I would just reinforce the choices that he's probably already making - the right ways to treat our bodies, what to do when someone isn't safe, etc.
While six is young, there's really no way for the school to win here. Either they're too young because they haven't been exposed to drugs and alcohol yet, or they're too old because they have had the exposure and haven't been educated. And while in an ideal world all kids would be getting a consistent "drugs and alcohol are bad" message from their parents, we all know that simply doesn't happen for a variety of reasons. But I 100% promise you that learning about drugs and alcohol won't make him more likely to try it, especially at age 6! Honestly, it might not make him _less_ likely to try them as he gets older either, but, in my opinion, it's better that we arm our kids with the developmentally-appropriate facts than to simply hope for the best.
Good luck.
My son was about 3 when I 1st discussed it with him. I don't think there ever is a too young age for that discussion. It just needs to be offered in an age appropriate manner. He would see people smoking and ask about it and I would tell him how it's not healthy. I tell him how drugs and alcohol isn't healthy for his body and how it can make him act and he will make very inappropriate choices sometimes while drinking and doing drugs. Smoking is a drug in a way. I've talked to him about peer pressure. I've told him what to say when kids might tell him he's not cool for not trying what they think is cool. His pediatrician was also killed by a drunk driver so that opened the subject up even more. The drunk driver was also killed. It was right near our house on a road we drove frequently to his Pre-k school so he saw the memorial every day for months and would ask about it. But back to your question, see what the school is going to be talking about. The counselor will probably have a detailed print out or itinerary. Ask him what he knows. Tell him how you feel about it honestly. describe the difference between prescribed meds and illegal meds and how even too much of a good medicine can hurt you. How you should only use medicine for what they are prescribed for and to never share meds. Chances are he knows more than you think he knows. I believe in giving kids information, not too much of course but information so he feels in control of his life. Good luck.
I would use naturally occurring events as a learning oportunity--you see someone smoking, a billboard ad for beer or cigarettes, items in the grocery store. Focus on responsible choices and the law at this age. Talk about how these substances affect reactions and thinking giving age appropriate examples. Talk about being healthy.
I've always made an effort to be open and honest with my kids, and sometimes it's hard to explain things for their age level.
When my oldest was 4 or 5, she asked me what drugs were, and I explained, "you know how when you spin-and-spin-and-spin, it makes you all crazy dizzy, and it feels kind of weird and fun? Well, if a grown-up drinks too much beer or wine, or takes drugs, it can make them feel all crazy dizzy like that. But if they drink too much or take drugs to feel dizzy, it can hurt their body, make them sick, or they might hurt somebody else."
I think it is great that you want to talk to your boys about drugs and alcohol. They need to know what you believe and why. Keep it very casual, like a normal conversation. You could start with the fact that you heard they will be talking about drugs and alcohol at school. Ask them what they know. The sooner they see that they can ask you questions any time and that you can trust them with very important information, the better.
If you drink, make sure they know that it is because it is not against the law once you are an adult and that the reason it is legal for an adult is because you are old enough to understand what can happen if you drink too much, etc. Make sure they understand that there is such a thing as responsible drinking so they don't think you or Uncle Bill are bad if you drink responsibly.
As others have posted, make sure they know the difference between legal and illegal drugs and the dangers of taking legal drugs from someone else's prescription or not following instructions on the bottle of legal drugs.
Always let them know that they can ask you questions any time and that other kids may think they know something and may tell them something that isn't true. Tell them that you are an expert and they can always ask you.
As a teacher, that age only needs to know the basics, UNLESS the child has had a lot of information given to him by your family on various topics.
IF he asks for more information, answer in simple words so that he understands. Best of luck.
P.S. I would suggest that you as parents start talking about various topics. He will learn a lot more than you care to think by his peers. It's better to come from you first than some of the kids....
It does get crazy when they start informing the kids at school. Your kids will reprimand you if they see you with a beer or a cigarette, lol. They have really pitted the kids against the parents with this issue. ...
I would go to the school and ask the teacher to give you some of the propaganda that she will be using and that will give you the guideline on what type of conversation you actually need to have with him. Once you are informed of what is going to be presented I trust you will come up with some things to say or explain.
