How Parents Can Keep Their Children off Drugs
Drugs pose a
threat to our children, but parents can protect them from much of this threat by
working on the following preventive
measures.
An important first step in keeping children off drugs is to build up their
self-esteem. Children
with a positive self-image stand a
better chance against peer pressure. Parents must help their
children know they are a special creation of God (Ps. 139: 13-16) and worthy of
dignity and
respect (Ps. 8).
Parents must
help them see the dangers of trying to conform to some group's standards by
going along with its drug habits. Kids often think drugs are chic and cool.
Parents must show
their children that drugs are dangerous
and work to counter the clichés of kids who will tempt
their children to use drugs.
Second, parents should monitor their
children's friendships. Before they allow their children to
spend too much time with another child,
parents should get to know the other child's family.
Does the child come home to an empty
house after school? Is there adult supervision of the
children's activities? An unsupervised home often invites drug experimentation.
A third thing parents can do is to promote alternatives to drugs. Schools
and church groups
should develop "Just Say No" clubs and programs. Parents should
provide alternative activities
for their children. Sports, school
clubs, the arts, and hobbies are all positive alternatives to the
negative influence of drugs. At home, children should be encouraged to read
books, play on a
computer, or be involved in other
activities that use the mind.
Fourth, parents should teach their
children about drugs. Drug education cannot be left to the
schools. Parents have to be personally
involved and let their kids know that drugs will not be
tolerated. Parents themselves should be
educated about drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Fifth, parents must set a good example. Parents who are drug-free have a much
better chance
of rearing drug-free children. If parents are using drugs, they should stop
immediately. The
unconditional message to our kids must be that drugs are wrong and they will not
be tolerated at
home.
