Message to Dads: Stay Involved In Your Child's Life
by: ARA Content
(ARA) - Being actively involved in your child's life has many rewards
-- memories, great conversations, a deeper relationship with your child,
and the chance to watch your child grow into a healthy and responsible
adult. But did you know that by simply spending time with your child you
are also helping to keep him or her away from drugs?
Dr. Phillippe Cunningham, research scientist at the Department of
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Medical University of South Carolina,
explains, "Kids who are close to their parents are less likely to engage
in a whole host of risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse."
However, he cautions that not all kinds of parental involvement are
equally helpful.
"The fact that a parent and child are in the same room does not
necessarily mean that they are interacting," Dr. Cunningham says.
"Parents need to create situations where they can connect emotionally
with their child."
Dr. Cunningham offers the following suggestions to foster this
emotional connection:
- Establish a regular weekly routine of doing something special,
such as going out for a walk, that will allow you to talk with your
child.
- Hold regular family meetings in which each person gets a chance to
talk without interruption, and where only constructive feedback is
allowed.
- If at all possible, be home after school. If not, try to arrange
for some type of adult supervision -- even if it's just a neighbor
dropping by once in a while.
- Eat meals together as often as you can. Use it as an opportunity
to discuss a specific topic with your children -- current events,
their interests, popular music, fashion, or school.
If you would like more information on staying connected with your
kids and keeping them off drugs, visit www.theantidrug.com, the National
Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's online parenting resource. The site
offers a brochure called "Parenting Skills: 21 Tips and Ideas to Help
You Make a Difference," which may also be ordered by calling (800)
788-2800.
About The Author
This article courtesy of ARA Content
For more information, please contact
Ellen Besner, Fleishman-Hillard, at (202) 828-9725, e-mail:
besnere@fleishman.com
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