60 Second Conversation Starter
Edgewood teacher Carly Sheppard encourages parents in this video to talk to their kids about alcohol before it becomes a big event.
For children younger than 12, it’s best to focus conversations around health (exercise, sleep, etc.) and safety (only taking medicine prescribed to them). With children/teens older than 12, parents can have more direct conversations by asking what they know about alcohol and other substances.
To start a conversation with a reluctant child, try asking open-ended questions like the ones below. They might lead to discussions about alcohol or marijuana.
- What’s the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning?
- What do you like most about your closest friends?
- What was the best part of your day/week?
- What do you like most about our family?
Source: Operation Parent; ADAPT: Mind the Message campaign
It’s not one 60-minute conversation.
It’s 60 one-minute conversations.
