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Too Smart To Start

Too Smart To Start. Demorest Elementary School Alaina Conner, MS, NCC School Counselor. An underage alcohol use prevention initiative for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to 13-year-old children. Partners in Prevention. 9- to 13-year-olds (lifelong health behaviors are established ).

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Too Smart To Start

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  1. Too Smart To Start Demorest Elementary School Alaina Conner, MS, NCC School Counselor An underage alcohol use prevention initiative for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to 13-year-old children

  2. Partners in Prevention • 9- to 13-year-olds (lifelong health behaviors are established) • Parents (underestimate their child’s vulnerability to alcohol and their own ability to affect their child’s decisions to use alcohol) **Family is a major influence on children’s alcohol use…

  3. Who Are 9- to 13-Year-Olds? • 21 million in the U.S. (7% of U.S. pop.) • Positive and optimistic about their futures • Influenced by TV, music, the Internet • 55% are being raised in households with annual incomes of at least $40,000 Ferret, 2002; Nickelodeon/Yankelovich, 2001; Rideout et al, 1999

  4. Diverse More Racial and Ethnic Diversity Than Their Parents U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

  5. The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are In Transition • Their bodies are changing • They become independent thinkers • They develop a sense of self and independence Pan American Health Organization, 2001; American Psychological Association, 2002; E.W. Austin, 1995

  6. Minds • Begin to understand that actions have consequences • Problem-solving skills are evolving • Begin to understand logical and causal relationships • Start to take risks Pan American Health Organization, 2001; American Psychological Association, 2002; E.W. Austin, 1995

  7. New Sense of Self • Friends are extremely important • Nine- to thirteen-year-olds begin questioning adult values and rules • They begin to establish identity and independence Pan American Health Organization, 2001; American Psychological Association, 2002; E.W. Austin, 1995

  8. The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are In Transition “I really want to change my appearance.” 9- to 11-year-old respondents to the 2000/2001 Nickelodeon/Yankelovich Youth MONITOR Survey

  9. The 9- to 13-Year-Olds Are Vulnerable • Vulnerability to alcohol initiation is heightened during periods of change • Around age 10 or 11 children begin to approve of underage alcohol use • More than 40% of children who use alcohol before age 15 abuse alcohol or become dependent later in life Johnson et al, 2001; NIAAA, D.A. Dawson, 1997; NIDA, Sloboda, and David, 1997; SAMHSA/CSAP, 1999

  10. Use and Access to Alcohol by 9- to 13-year-olds • Most 9- to 13-year-olds do not use alcohol • Past year alcohol use varies by grade and type of alcohol: • Consumption of wine coolers ranged from 6% of fourth graders to 36% of eighth graders • Consumption of beer ranged from 6% of fourth graders to 34% of eighth graders • Consumption of liquor ranged from 2% of fourth graders to 27% of eighth graders PRIDE 2000; PRIDE 2001-2002

  11. Use and Access to Alcohol by 9- to 13-year-olds (continued) • Youths’ expectations that they will use alcohol turn from negative to positive at age 10 or 11 • The average age of first alcohol use is 13 PRIDE 2000

  12. Boys vs. Girls • Boys try alcohol as early as 11 and experience more alcohol-related problems than girls • Girls try alcohol as early as 13

  13. Youth per Type of Household Percent of Children 9 to 11 by Type of Household 2000/2001 Nickelodeon/Yankelovich Youth MONITOR * * May or may not be biological parents

  14. Parents: Key to Prevention • Mothers and fathers of 9- to 13-year-olds are especially influential • Waiting to talk to children until they are older allows peers to have more influence ONDCP, 2001; SAMHSA/CSAP Parenting and Strengthening Families Program, 1999; SAMHSA Fact Sheet: The role of parents in preventing and addressing underage drinking, 1999

  15. Parents Are Influential But Might Not Know It • Major influence on youth alcohol use and related behaviors • Parents underestimate their children’s vulnerability to alcohol use MADD, 2001; SAMHSA/CSAP Too Smart To Start, 2002; ONDCP, 2001

  16. What Are Parents Thinking? • Many parents lack accurate perception about the harms of underage alcohol use • Parents see underage alcohol use as “more acceptable” than using illegal drugs MADD, 2001; SAMHSA/CSAP Too Smart To Start, 2002

  17. Parents Need Encouragement They: • Believe they lack the skills to communicate with their children • Perceive themselves as having little influence over their children • Have, and desire, a high level of involvement with their children CASA, 1999; Nickelodeon National Survey of Parents and Kids, 2001; Mitchell, 2000

  18. When Parents Get Involved... Children: • Become more responsible • Feel more appreciated • Readily follow parents’ guidance • Respond more positively to expectations …children respond SAMHSA/CSAP Parenting and Family Strengthening Program, 1999

  19. Barriers to Success • Family: Parents are more concerned with drug use than with alcohol use • Social: Some parents are comfortable with alcohol use as a “rite of passage” • Peer: Perception that their peers have experimented with alcohol • Community: Alcohol is socially acceptable • National: Lack of funding MADD, 2001; CASA, 1999; PRIDE, 2002; SAMHSA/CSAP, 2001

  20. Together Everything Fits • 9- to 13-year-olds • Parents/ caregivers

  21. The Keys to Success • Positive attitude — reinforces positive behaviors • Respect 9- to 13-year-olds — empowers them to make the right decisions • Dialogue — keeps the doors open and encourages mutual respect • Establish and maintain good communication with 9- to 13-year-olds

  22. The Keys to Success (continued) • Get involved in 9- to 13-year-olds’ lives • Make clear rules and enforce them with consistency and appropriate consequences • Be a positive role model • Help 9- to 13-year-olds with the need for peer acceptance • Monitor 9- to 13-year-olds’ activities

  23. Too Smart To Start An underage alcohol use prevention initiative for parents, caregivers, and their 9- to 13-year-old children

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