N How to Talk to your Child about Marijuana Contributed by: Carroll County Substance Education Coalition Talking to your child about marijuana and other drugs is undeniably difficult. Often, the hardest part is starting the conversation. It is important to get in the right frame of mind and set the stage FOCUS ON PREVENTION Talking to our children about marijuana use isn't always easy... for an effective conversation about substances. Here are some strategies to do so. but it is crucial for prevention. conversation with your teen, one thing to keep in mind is that when a child feels judged or condemned, she is less likely to be receptive to your message. In order to achieve the best outcome for you and your teen, try to preserve a position of objectivity and openness. This is challenging and may take practice. Put yourself in your teen's shoes. For instance, consider the manner in which you yourself would prefer to be addressed when speaking about a difficult subject. it might be helpful to think about how you felt when you were a teenager. Be clear about your goals. It may help to write them down. Once you know what you would like to get from the conversation, you can look back at these afterward and review what went right, what went wrong, what goals were met, which ones were saved for a later date and whether you were able to deliver them effectively. Becalmandrelaxed.lfyouapproachyourteenwithangerorpanic, CCSEC Talking to Your Kids About Marijuana Isn't Easy. it will make it harder to achieve your goals. If you are anxious about having a conversation with her, find some things to do that will help relax you beforehand. Bepositive. If you approach the situation with shame, anger, scare tactics or disappointment your efforts will be counter-productive. Instead, be attentive, curious, respectful and understanding. Don't lecture. Keep in mind that if you spoke with her about drugs when she was younger, she already knows that you disapprove of her use. To lecture her about this will most likely lead to her shutting down, tuning you out, anger or worse it could be misinterpreted as you disapproving of her instead of her actions, which can lead to shame and, in turn, more substance Only 43%* of Carroll County Parents HAVE TALKED to their teens se. Throwing your weight around in order to stop something from happening ("You can't, because l'm your parent and I said so") is highly ineffective. Avoid pulling rank if you get frustrated. Find a comfortable setting. Announcing a sit-down meeting ("We need to have a talk after dinner") will usually be met with resistance, while a more spontaneous, casual approach will lower her anxiety and maybe even your own. Perhaps this means taking a walk with her or and sitting in the yard or park. Look for a place that feels less confined but not too distracting. Be aware about Marijuana Use. Make Sure You're One of Them of body language. If your teen is sitting, you want to be sitting as well. If she is standing, ask her to sit down with you. Be mindful of finger-pointing and crossed arms; these are closed gestures, while uncrossed legs and a relaxed posture are open gestures. For more information, visit our website at: www.drugfreecarrollcounty.org. Contact information: (815) 244-0063, and 114 West Market Street Mt. Carroll Illinois 61053 Not talking to your teens about Marijuana use is the same as GIVING PERMISSION "According to the 2018 Illinois Youth Survey Taken by Carroll County Youth. Source: Partnership for Drug-Free Kids N How to Talk to your Child about Marijuana Contributed by: Carroll County Substance Education Coalition Talking to your child about marijuana and other drugs is undeniably difficult. Often, the hardest part is starting the conversation. It is important to get in the right frame of mind and set the stage FOCUS ON PREVENTION Talking to our children about marijuana use isn't always easy... for an effective conversation about substances. Here are some strategies to do so. but it is crucial for prevention. conversation with your teen, one thing to keep in mind is that when a child feels judged or condemned, she is less likely to be receptive to your message. In order to achieve the best outcome for you and your teen, try to preserve a position of objectivity and openness. This is challenging and may take practice. Put yourself in your teen's shoes. For instance, consider the manner in which you yourself would prefer to be addressed when speaking about a difficult subject. it might be helpful to think about how you felt when you were a teenager. Be clear about your goals. It may help to write them down. Once you know what you would like to get from the conversation, you can look back at these afterward and review what went right, what went wrong, what goals were met, which ones were saved for a later date and whether you were able to deliver them effectively. Becalmandrelaxed.lfyouapproachyourteenwithangerorpanic, CCSEC Talking to Your Kids About Marijuana Isn't Easy. it will make it harder to achieve your goals. If you are anxious about having a conversation with her, find some things to do that will help relax you beforehand. Bepositive. If you approach the situation with shame, anger, scare tactics or disappointment your efforts will be counter-productive. Instead, be attentive, curious, respectful and understanding. Don't lecture. Keep in mind that if you spoke with her about drugs when she was younger, she already knows that you disapprove of her use. To lecture her about this will most likely lead to her shutting down, tuning you out, anger or worse it could be misinterpreted as you disapproving of her instead of her actions, which can lead to shame and, in turn, more substance Only 43%* of Carroll County Parents HAVE TALKED to their teens se. Throwing your weight around in order to stop something from happening ("You can't, because l'm your parent and I said so") is highly ineffective. Avoid pulling rank if you get frustrated. Find a comfortable setting. Announcing a sit-down meeting ("We need to have a talk after dinner") will usually be met with resistance, while a more spontaneous, casual approach will lower her anxiety and maybe even your own. Perhaps this means taking a walk with her or and sitting in the yard or park. Look for a place that feels less confined but not too distracting. Be aware about Marijuana Use. Make Sure You're One of Them of body language. If your teen is sitting, you want to be sitting as well. If she is standing, ask her to sit down with you. Be mindful of finger-pointing and crossed arms; these are closed gestures, while uncrossed legs and a relaxed posture are open gestures. For more information, visit our website at: www.drugfreecarrollcounty.org. Contact information: (815) 244-0063, and 114 West Market Street Mt. Carroll Illinois 61053 Not talking to your teens about Marijuana use is the same as GIVING PERMISSION "According to the 2018 Illinois Youth Survey Taken by Carroll County Youth. Source: Partnership for Drug-Free Kids