Reserve Time for Family
Everyone is busy, but there is no substitute for family time. Kids who are close to their parents are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. The more involved you are in your teens’ lives, the more valued they will feel, and the more likely they are to respond to you.
Establishing a regular weekly routine with your teen – even if it’s just going out for ice cream – can help the family catch up and establish the open communication that is essential to raising drug-free young people. When teens know where their parents stand on drug use, they are more likely to think twice before experimenting. Of youth who reported that their parents would disapprove of marijuana use, only about 5 percent had used marijuana in the past month. However, of youth who did not perceive parental disapproval, 28 percent reported using marijuana in the past month.1
Family time does not have to be a big event or require a lot of advance planning. Even a few minutes of conversation while you’re cleaning up after dinner or right before going to bed is enough to let your teens know you’re there for them and want to be involved in their lives. Whether you have five minutes or a full Sunday afternoon, take one of these tips for staying in touch:
Quick Catch-up
- Call or text throughout the day to check in
- Routinely schedule family dinner at home or at a favorite neighborhood restaurant
- Send a private message via their social networking site
- Leave a note on the counter that they will see when they get home from school
Day-long Activities
- Enjoy a trip to a local museum or gallery to try something new
- Even a day of window shopping at the mall can be a great bonding experience
- Take the family to a local sporting event like a minor league baseball game
- Encourage family activities like hiking, biking, or fishing
- Volunteer together at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or nursing home
Next: Free Time Planner
