addition to explaining to my children the dangers of prescription drug abuse, I have used this info graphic from Sundance Canyon Academy. I asked them to study it and then I ask specific questions about the information so I am sure they understand.
CULTIVATING HEALTHY CURIOSITY
For many teenagers drug use starts out of curiosity. Especially when we have encouraged our teenagers to explore the world sometimes they don’t understand how to draw those healthy lines. Research has actually shown the more curious a person is the more satisfaction with life they report. Again that faulty, pleasure-seeking-teenager might not possess all the skills to make safe, healthy decisions. It is, however, that healthy curiosity which may keep your teen from dangerous social behaviors such as alcohol and drugs. Helping your kids engage in appropriate activities such as sports, music, or art lessons will give their brain the same “high” and it will likely be enough to keep them from seeking a pharmaceutical or illicit one.
THE STAKES
If we go back to the pleasure-seeking teenage brain for a moment we need to understand what is at stake if our teenager’s natural curiosity is not fed in healthy ways. Curious teens who have no outlet turn to delinquency to feed that part of their psyche. In some kids delinquent behavior is the very simple result of being bored. To parents that seems completely ridiculous but to the jumbled neurons of your teenager’s brain you have to understand it’s completely logical. The result can be trouble at school and eventual trouble with the law. If you have a teenager who is starting to be out-of-you must to do everything you can to pull them back.
Successfully raising teenagers means understanding them from the brain on out. Your poor kid’s brain is so confused right now that he literally does not know what to do. Accept the jumbled mess and help your teen understand. Relaying messages of “what not to do” stories might feel like parenting but you need to go deeper than that because your teenager’s brain is not getting the message. Clear communication and embracing their natural curiosity can help you both.
Tyler Jacobson is a freelance writer, with past experience in content writing and outreach for parent and teen advocate organizations. His areas of focus include: parenting, education, social media, addiction, and issues facing teenagers today.
Follow Tyler on Twitter: @tylerpjacobson