From the Partnership for a Drug-Free America®: A New Year's Resolution for Every Parent: Talk To Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol
10 Resolutions that Show Your Kids You Care at TimeToTalk. org.
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 11, 2007
As parents make New Year's resolutions for 2008, The Partnership for a Drug-Free America® urges parents to look past weight loss, exercise and curbing shopping habits to include learning new ways to talk openly with their kids about living healthy lives.
NEWS FACT
Time To Talk™ (www. TimeToTalk. org)] celebrates the positive influence parents have on the decisions their children make for themselves. With access to conversation starters and a supportive online parent forum, TimeToTalk. org empowers parents to take an active role in prevention.
10 Resolutions That Show Your Kids You Care, www. TimeToTalk. org]
1. Teach your children to trust you by seeing you as a role model.
2. Be patient, not just tolerant. Apologize when you make a mistake or do something you regret.
3. Ask teens what they need from you -- and do whatever you can to meet those needs.
4. Listen to your teens, a lot. Avoid interrupting.
5. Teach your children about ethics, values and principles they can apply in choices and decision-making.
6. Help them discover the feeling of gratitude, not just to say thank you.
7. Keep the promises you make. If you do not keep your word, acknowledge that. Help your teen understand the circumstances or choices that precipitated the change in your plans.
8. Answer your teen's questions and be consistent. When you notice behavioral changes in them, make yourself available and encourage them to talk about what is going on in their life.
9. Be understanding when they have a difficult time and let them know you will love them no matter what.
10. Be diligent. Have ongoing conversations with your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
Click here to download the 10 resolutions (http://www. timetotalk. org/Downloads/10%20resolutions%20that%20show%20your%20kids%20you%20care. pdf) PDF Version
QUOTES
Attribute to Dr. Amelia Arria, Senior Scientist at the Treatment Research Institute and internationally recognized researcher on family risk factors affecting adolescent substance abuse
•"It's important that parents understand how to communicate with their kids, especially during the teenage years."
"During these crucial years, parents can teach trust by being trustworthy and upfront with their teens. Talking openly when mistakes are made or promises are broken builds a foundation for good communication in families."
Attribute to Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of the Partnership
"Many parents want to let their children experience freedom during their teen years. But your teen is looking to you for support and guidance during such transitional years because these are the years they are first exposed to alcohol, inhalants and drug abuse." "It's clear that a growing number of parents don't just want information; they want advice on what to do and best approaches to having open and honest conversations with their kids." Nearly one-third of parents say they have a need for more information about drugs and 30 percent say they need tips on how to start a discussion about drugs. Additionally, 37 percent of parents surveyed reported they want information on how to tell if a child is using drugs." "The New Year marks the perfect time to set a resolution for your family and with Time To Talk, parents have access to the resources they need to successfully communicate with their teen." "Throughout the New Year, TimeToTalk. org will continue to provide easy tips, conversation starters and the information parents truly need to know to be the most influential voices in the lives of their children."
Please contact Jocelyn Johnson at jjohnson@gravitas-pr. com to arrange an interview and/or for additional quotes.
About TimeToTalk. org
Time To Talk provides parents helpful tips and tools to begin these conversations as well as the encouragement to help parents keep it going over the long haul. Parents can sign up for free monthly newsletters and gain access to tools such as, Tips for Getting the Conversation Started, How to Help Your Kid Turn Down Drugs and Answering the Question: "Did You Do Drugs?" Insightful, timely and relevant content and resources are updated and added frequently. The site also links to Time To Talk's Yahoo! Groups, an online parent forum that enables parents to share experiences and connect with others facing similar situations.
About the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization uniting communications professionals, renowned scientists and parents. Best known for its national drug-education campaign, the Partnership's mission is to reduce illicit drug use in America. Now in its 20th year, the Partnership helps parents and caregivers effectively address drug and alcohol abuse with their children. A major new initiative now unfolding integrates the latest science and research with the most effective traditional media and digital communication techniques to give parents the tools, resources and support they need to help their children lead healthy lives. The Partnership depends on donations and support from individuals, corporations, foundations and government. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA for their ongoing generosity.
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