We receive many of your questions, doubts, thoughts and problems every day. You are looking for answers, you want guidance, you are exploring possibilities - and that makes us very happy, because there really are many who are ready to learn and work on themselves, and at the same time are not ashamed and not afraid to ask for help.
How to talk to children about the harmful effects of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs?
With preschool children (up to the age of 7), it is not necessary to go into details about the harm of drugs. Of course, children may have questions about smoking cigarettes, about why alcohol is not for children, and short explanations of how these substances are extremely harmful to children's health and that they are also harmful to adults, especially if they use them to a large extent, are sufficient.
It is always good to take advantage of a situation that occurs spontaneously or when children ask you a question. So, for example, the usual taking of medicine (antibiotics, cough syrup, etc.) can be used to explain to children how medicines are used expressly on the recommendation of a doctor who gives permission for that medicine to be used only by the person who needs it. Medicines for adults are not for children, and vice versa. Here, already with his attitude, the parent shows that he is against any "illegal" taking of medication, which the children will remember and probably - adopt. If a character with a cigarette appears in a movie, a parent can explain why people reach for a cigarette, but also how it harms people. He can also mention that there are some other bad "medicines" (drugs) that people take to make themselves feel better, even though it does them harm. There is no need to intimidate or talk about these topics with hesitation, teaching, warning the child, etc. because the child will perceive it as your "taboo" topic. It is important for the parent to speak calmly and for the child to feel that his parent is open to conversation, which will mean a lot to the parent in later childhood, puberty and adolescence, when children are less inclined to open up to their parents.