As they grow, they're impressed by our concern for others when we bring soup to a sick neighbor and by our honesty when we admit making a rnistake. Children who decide not to use alcohol or other drugs often make this decision because they have strong convictions against the use of these substances, convictions based on a value system. You can make your family's values clear by explaining why you choose a particular course of action and how that choice reflects your values. Concrete examples like these make the abstract issue of values come alive. It's frustrating how few chances there are to have conversations about drugs with our children.
Ground rules help.
Regular parent-child rituals. These eliminate the need for constant planning and rearranging. Perhaps you can take the long way home from school once a week and get ice cream or make a weekly visit to the library together. Even a few minutes of conversation while you're cleaning up after dinner or right before bedtime can help the family catch up and establish the open communication that is essential to raising drug-free children. Don't assume that your children know where you stand.