Emphasize the things your child is doing right instead of always focusing on things that are wrong. When parents are quicker to praise than to criticize, children learn to feel good about themselves, and they develop the self-confidence to trust their own judgement. Give clear messages. When talking about the use of alcohol and other drugs, be sure you give your child a clear no-use message, so that the child will know exactly what is expected. Model good behavior.
Children learn by example as well as teaching.
Your children are modeling their behavior on yours so make sure that your won actions reflect the standards of honesty, integrity, and fair play that you expect of your child. Children and adults have different communication styles and different ways of responding in a conversation. In addition, timing and atmosphere may determine how successful communication will be. Parents should make time to talk with their children in a quiet, unhurried manner.