They also see adults as all-powerful, and your behavior serves as a strong model for them. However, rather than spending a lot of time talking about alcohol and drugs, you'll want to stress the need for children to take personal responsibility for their own health and well-being. Information should be concrete, related to the child's experiences, and stated positively. Your focus should be on helping children form healthy habits that will serve them well in school and in life. They are looking to achieve, and to push themselves.
Friends are very important, and acceptance can be everything.
During these years, children are exposed to messages that may not agree with your values. Children in this age group are ready to absorb information that deals with drugs and alcohol. Some children may even have experienced pressure to experiment with these substances. Because adults are still the major influence in children's lives at this age, now is the time to set clear rules and model behaviors you would like your children to embrace, and to encourage friendships and attitudes likely to support a drug-free life. To help children pick supportive friends, your conversation might deal with looking at people's strengths and weaknesses, becoming involved in activities that foster friendships, and how to escape from situations that do not enhance self-esteem.