{"id":802193,"date":"2019-12-11T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=375715"},"modified":"2019-12-11T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-12-11T15:00:00","slug":"to-shape-responsible-behavior-in-youth-parents-are-the-most-important-role-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/to-shape-responsible-behavior-in-youth-parents-are-the-most-important-role-models\/","title":{"rendered":"To shape responsible behavior in youth, parents are the most important role models"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by the Healthy Futures Initiative.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
Schedule time to do healthy things together as a family such as cooking dinner, skiing or other activities. Research shows that teens who are involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to consume alcohol or drugs.<\/em><\/strong>
Getty Images<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As a parent in Summit County, do you talk to your children about drugs and alcohol? Do you know if they\u2019re prepared to handle difficult situations? Are you modeling healthy behaviors for your children at home?<\/p>\n

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2014, marijuana use has become more front and center locally.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see it being used and can often smell it as well, and I believe the more exposure the youth get to marijuana, the more likely they are to use it themselves,\u201d said Tim Gallagher, a senior at Summit High School who is also part of the Youth Empowerment Society of Summit (YESS), a group of high school students that spreads awareness about social issues and advocates for youth.<\/p>\n

The important work that YESS does is just one piece of the puzzle that lead youth to make healthy, responsible choices, but the most important work occurs at home.<\/p>\n

Be a role model<\/strong><\/p>\n

What young people see in their home environment is extremely influential in shaping their perception of alcohol and drug use, said Sarah E. Vaine, assistant county manager for Summit County Government. Before her role with the county, Vaine spent 20 years working with adolescents and families as a therapist in private practice and as CEO of the Summit Community Care Clinic.<\/p>\n

If and when parents use marijuana or alcohol, you should be modeling appropriate \u2014 and legal \u2014 behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat young people see in their home environment is going to most significantly shape their perception of alcohol and drug use,\u201d Vaine said.<\/p>\n

Build trust by being honest and transparent<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you make a mistake as a parent, use that as a teaching opportunity and as a way to build trust with youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say you go to a party with your kids and you drink too much. You can say to your children the next day, \u2018Man, I had too many glasses of wine and I feel crummy. I hope I didn\u2019t upset you,\u2019\u201d Vaine said. \u201cBe credible. Admit that it was a poor choice and talk about it with your children. Ask them if they have questions about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parents have a powerful influence on their kids\u2019 life choices. By having clear family values and being a good role model, youth are better equipped to handle difficult situations and make responsible choices.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Edgar, Summit School District\u2019s mental and physical health coordinator, said it\u2019s essential for parents to not only set clear household guidelines regarding substance use, but it\u2019s also important to practice what you preach.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about what you are exposing your children to if you\u2019re partaking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Find healthy alternatives to substances<\/strong><\/p>\n

Substance use is a tempting way to \u201ccut loose\u201d after a stressful day or week. Speak Now Colorado, the state Office of Behavioral Health\u2019s website designed to help parents have important conversations with their children, recommends finding healthy alternatives like practicing a sport, doing yoga, walking or other exercise as ways to let some steam out.<\/p>\n

\u201cExplain that alcohol and drugs often leave people feeling worse and don\u2019t truly relieve stress,\u201d according to the site.<\/p>\n

Encourage extracurricular activities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Research shows that teens who are involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to consume alcohol or drugs. Encourage your children to get involved in extracurricular activities that fit with their interests: volunteer at the animal shelter, play a sport, join a club, take art classes or music lessons.<\/p>\n

Speak Now Colorado recommends taking an interest in your kids\u2019 interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay involved by asking open questions that address a variety of topics. Ask them about the music they listen to, the kinds of shows they like to watch on TV, what they like to do with their friends and on the weekends,\u201d according to Speak Now Colorado<\/a>. \u201cYour children might be looking to be more independent, but they still need you and the support family provides. Plan family and game nights. Go out to the park or plan an activity during the weekend. Show them that family can also be a place where they can have fun and feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Practice healthy behaviors together as a family<\/strong><\/p>\n

Schedule time to do healthy things together as a family such as cooking dinner, skiing, attending a sibling\u2019s soccer game, seeing a movie, going for a bike ride or shooting hoops at the recreation center.<\/p>\n

These are also great opportunities to have natural conversations about drugs and alcohol, without the pressure of a lecture. \u201cFamily dinners, car rides, and other natural places where conversations happen are great opportunities to talk about these things,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cHaving natural conversations works much better and establishes deeper connections between the parents and their youth. \u2026 Let the youth know that the parent is there for them and wants to help them make the right decisions, but let kids be kids and do not control their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by the Healthy Futures Initiative. Schedule time to do healthy things together as a family such as cooking dinner, skiing or other activities. Research shows that teens who are involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to consume alcohol or drugs.Getty Images As a parent in Summit County, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-802193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-02 08:26:47","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=802193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=802193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=802193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=802193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}