{"id":797713,"date":"2019-07-17T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T15:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=368865"},"modified":"2019-07-17T09:00:08","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T15:00:08","slug":"7-ways-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-drugs-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/7-ways-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-drugs-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"7 ways to talk to your teen about drugs and alcohol"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Sincere empathy and a genuine desire to learn about a teen\u2019s experiences can help parents empower their children to make smart decisions on their own.<\/strong>
Shutterstock images<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

When tough subjects like alcohol, drug use and vaping come up at home, parents can employ some key strategies to keep the lines of communication open with their teenage children and support them in making healthy choices.<\/p>\n

Sincere empathy and a genuine desire to learn about a teen\u2019s experiences can help parents empower their children to make smart decisions on their own. That, after all, should be one of the main goals of parenting any adolescent child, said Kellyn Glynn, behavioral health supervisor with the Summit Community Care Clinic. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe earlier the better when it comes to having conversations like this,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019re not trying to keep teens away from difficult situations \u2014 you\u2019re trying to help them make good choices on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

We asked Glynn and Lauren Gearhart, the program coordinator for Mountain Mentors, about the best ways to talk to teenage children about difficult topics. Here are 7 of their best tips.  <\/p>\n

1. Be genuine<\/strong><\/p>\n

When both talking and listening, it\u2019s essential to be genuine with your teen. By empathizing with your teen about peer pressure and other adolescent challenges, teens will feel respected and heard. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling nervous about a party that your son or daughter is attending, talk to them about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe genuine and authentic about how you\u2019re feeling, and share your side of things as a parent,\u201d Glynn said. <\/p>\n

Being genuine also opens the lines of communication for all kinds of difficult topics, Gearhart said.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Shutterstock images
Parents who develop trust and open communication with their teens are more likely to successfully prepare their children to make smart decisions when faced with difficult situations.<\/strong>
shutterstock_340603901<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

2. Ask open-ended questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re trying to get more than a one-word response from your teen, open-ended questions are essential. By providing teens the opportunity to share their perspective, you\u2019re also able to truly hear their concerns rather than simply wait for your turn to speak. These open-ended questions also prevent putting words in a teen\u2019s mouth or contaminating their responses. <\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people have a lot to say, so give them the opportunity to express themselves and share what they\u2019re thinking and feeling,\u201d Glynn said.<\/p>\n

Gearhart said you might ask questions in the following types of formats:<\/p>\n