It can be difficult to learn that your teen has been drinking and engaging in harmful behaviors for their health and well being. Today, we want to provide you with many resources that can help you learn the warning signs of teen drinking, along with ways you can encourage them to avoid or cut out drinking altogether.
Make sure you are bonding with your teen on a regular basis.
Bonding will ensure that your teen feels loved and supported and that you are a “safe person” with whom they can be honest and vulnerable. Reward your teen’s honesty with an empathetic, compassionate listening ear. Try to withhold unhelpful criticism and instead try to be kind and willing to help them make healthier choices.
If your child is refusing to listen to you, consider enlisting one of their trusted friends to talk to them about the damage they are doing to their body by drinking alcohol underage.
Sometimes, teens just won’t listen to reason if it’s coming from their parents. A great way to break into their perspective is to recruit one of their buddies to discuss your concerns with your teen. They never have to know it’s coming from you and they may just listen a lot more to their peers than they would their parents.
Excellent resources that can help you approach your child if you suspect they are abusing alcohol: