I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Anheuser-Busch’s Family Talk About Drinking Program I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #ABFamilyTalk
Alcoholism runs in my family. Both of my mother’s parents were alcoholics, and my mom recognizes that she could easily be one, too. Thankfully, she had an open dialogue with my brother and I about it. Nate also grew up in a home with parents who were very open about things like this as well. Now with our own kids, we talk with them often about our expectations, about thinking for themselves, and making good decisions when it comes to things like underage drinking.
When it comes to underage drinking, it’s up to parents to set boundaries and expectations. Sometimes this can be hard to do because you just don’t know where to start. The Family Talk About Drinking program (FTAD) is a great resource from Anheuser-Busch in collaboration with MJ Corcoran M.Ed that helps parents talk to their kids about alcohol, underage drinking, and responsible choices.
Having teenagers, it’s important to know how to talk to your kids about underage drinking. We are a very close knit family and my kids talk to me about anything, but I still want to make sure they know my expectations for underage drinking. We’ve had many conversations about underage drinking and what to do if Em is somewhere where underage drinking was happening.
According to FTAD, there are three stages of parenting.
As parents we are more like coaches for teens and young adults. Did you know parents are the greatest influence on teens’ decisions about drinking alcohol ages for 20 years? This is according to the GfK Roper Youth Report. This year’s report also shows a 24 percent increase in parents’ influence since 1991. They do and will listen to you!
Here are some ways we can talk to our teens about underage drinking:
Find Windows of Opportunity to Talk
When you have a teenager, windows of opportunity to talk can open and close fast. My teen and I often have important conversations any time and anywhere. Use prom and graduation to continue the conversation around underage drinking. Set clear expectations and boundaries and encourage good decision-making this prom and graduation season.
Connect with Your Teen
The two biggest things you can do for your teenager is listen and respect their opinion. They’ll be much more likely to talk with you about tough issues like underage drinking.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Be sure to ask open-ended questions to help your teen think through potential scenarios involving alcohol, especially now during prom and graduation season. This is something I think is so important. This really helps my kids learn to think things through adn to make their own good decisions.
- What’s the plan for the evening?
- What will you do if alcohol is around?
- Who’s driving? If they decide to drink, who would you call?
On the big night, keep communication open:
Maintain consistency with expectations.
Even though prom is a once-in-a-lifetime event, it should not mean changing your boundaries. Make sure your teen understands the dangers of underage drinking before heading to the after party.
Communicate with your teen throughout the evening.
Have check-in times with your teen during prom or graduation night. Talk or text with your teen that evening to reiterate your expectations and find out how things are going. Also, remember that sometimes a text is not enough and call your teen to check in.
Follow up with your teen after prom.
Ask if they had fun? Do they have pictures or fun stories to share? While talking make sure to reinforce your expectations. This shows consistency.
For more than 20 years, the Family Talk About Drinking program has helped parents by providing tips for talking to kids of all ages about alcohol. This program is a great supportive community that allows parents to learn new ideas, share stories, and ask questions about how best to tackle the problem of underage drinking. Even though we talk to our teen about drinking, I’ve found some new things from the website to bring up.
One lucky winner will win a $25 e-gift card — perfect to take your teen to dinner so you can have this important talk! Good luck!!
96 comments
I like to play board games with my kids.
We love playing outside and going to the beach.
we like to play board games
My son is 6 so any kind of game is how we spend time together!
We spend as much time outside together as possible – we play all kinds of games, and my son loves to help me in the garden too!
I like to Spend time with my daughter and son doing fun things together. By bike riding, taking walks with the dog, going to the movies, and eating out! We love spending time together!
we love to have game night
He’s 2 I like taking him to the park!!
We like to play Frisbee and catch.
I like to spend time with my daughters by having family game night or going shopping or taking walks together.
We take walks and kick the soccer ball around, play video games together and watch movies.
outside, biking, swimming
No kids. I like hiking and swimming.
Thanks for the contest.
we like to go out on our boat and go on picnics.
We love to go shopping and spend time outdoors. My son loves to play in the backyard and go on walks.
We like to go on hikes together. We hike at least once a week.
I go on walks with my little one
We like to do crafts, watch movies and play at the park.
I like to spend time baking with my grandsons.
We love to go camping together.
I like to do project with kids.
I like to snuggle up and read with them, play card games, and take walks with my kids.
We love reading together.
I like taking walks with my kids, going to visit new places, and playing outside with them.
We like to go camping, fishing and play disc golf.
We love to take walks and play games together!
We love reading together – sometimes the same book, aloud, and sometimes just next to each, reading silently.
We like to do arts and crafts
My favorite way is through playing board games! We love playing games with each other.
I love to spend time with them in the great outdoors hiking or fishing
I like going on daytrips and visiting interesting places
We love reading together
We love watching movies together and taking long walks together.
We like playing board games!
I like to read with them.
We like to watch movies and go for walks
playing games, whether board games or card games or multiplayer video games!
My kids and I love to go hiking in the beautiful pacific northwest! It is a great bonding activity as we all get sweaty together – but then get to enjoy the magnificent view at the top! There’s something so freeing about getting out of the city and my teenagers seem to really enjoy it.
We like going to the park and going for bike rides.
We eat dinner together every night
No kids yet, but I’m definitely forwarding this article to my friend who just started fostering her 16 y/o nephew. Love it! I hope to spend time with my kids outside, gardening, hiking, bike rides, etc.
This is a very important issue!
playing out side and going to the park
My favorite time with my kids is our almost-nightly read aloud time. They look forward to it as much as I do.
We love going to the park!
My daughter loves to go outside and give me a “tour”. I just follow her around while she tells me all about the chosen designation(zoo, jungle, etc.).
We do lots of stuff together, Im not a drop off mom, we homeschool them as well.
We like to go to the lake for a picnic and cookout. We also play games together.
We love watching movies together.
My kids are 16 and 18 and anytime I can get them out of the house is a good time. Otherwise, I never see them.
Shooting hoops or kicking the soccer ball
I spend time with her doing activities like crafts, photography, going to the beach. Super important for building a good communication system and be able to talk about topics like this.
I love having mommy son dates and mommy daughter dates taking one child at a time and doing whatever they chose and leaving phones down and giving them my undivided attention so they know how special and loved they are!
We love to swim, go for bike rides, and have family game night!
I like to do craft projects.
I love to play with my kids outside, such as going for bike rides.
Although we don’t have kids yet, I can certainly relate to talking to kids about underage drinking! When I was a teacher, I would chaperone and see the craziest stuff happen and it would sadden me. I think this program is incredible–sharing your post to help spread awareness!
My daughter and I are starting to walk/wog/run together.
We love to take bike rides together
Our kids ages vary so much it’s tough to find something all three are interested in (18, 6 & 3) so we usually will go get ice cream together or play a game.
We like to have movie nights together and we also take a mother-daughter shopping trip about once a month and spend the whole day together.
I like to play with their favorite toys with them – it teaches me a lot about them!
We spend a ton of time in the car so there is ample opportunity for long talks.
We love to play ball outside for go for mule rides 🙂
We love to go hiking and eat in the park later.
We like to play Uno We also like to read books and play board games.
We play outside, color, play Disney Infinity, make things, and lots more.
We love to do arts and crafts!
We have family movie and game nights!
We love to go geocaching!
Watching movies, listening to music, zumba, karaoke.
We cook together and spend time with our dogs.
We work and play together!
I like reading its interactive
I don’t care what we do, game night, movie night, park visit. It doesn’t matter as long as the family together.
We like to play outside together.
We like to spend time together at the playground in the park nearby!
We go to the dog park together every weekend. We love trying new restaurants and catching a good movie.
Movie night is probably our most favorite way to spend time with each other. We try to have a theme- like Taco Night, and make dinner and dessert.
When we are stuck inside the house we enjoy playing games, doing puzzles or watching movies.
I love to go camping with my kids.
Any time I have time is fun to be with the kids. I work a lot so being with them and even just talking over dinner is great. Being a single dad raising 5 alone is not always easy and sometimes makes you feel crazy but love my kids
we spend anytime we can together,,we like to have a family meal together at least once aday which is always nice then time before bed
going to the pool
We like to go for walks together.
Entered the Rafflecopter as “Wild Orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
we like to go to the park
I love reading to them and having them read to me, love to cook/bake with them, and go for walks.
We like to go fishing, geocaching, boating or just hiking in the woods Thanks for the chance!
I spend time with my kids just about every way possible. Dinner time is great for chats too. Movie nights are fun, and then family trips are always nice.
I think you can be in all three parenting stages throughout the lifetime of being a parent, and it never ends just because your child moves out of the home. Great post!
I like to work in the yard with my son. He has a lot of fun out there, so I have more fun too.
I love to talk to them and spend time doing what is important to them.
Taking walks and reading, we like to go to the park too!
My kids and I love to go to the zoo!! Really we love anything outdoors, but we have a family pass so we go to the zoo often! This was a great post thank you!!!
My son is 10, so I know this talk is right around the corner. Such a necessary thing!
I like to spend time with my kids anyway possible. From movie night, bedtime snuggles, homework…As long as we are together!
anything outside is for us