1. TOGETHER We Can Make A Difference Woodward Middle School 2011-2012 Drug and Alcohol Awareness

2. Who is this kid?

3. Why do teens act this way? Dr. Ken Winters, Adolescent Brain Expert, talks about current teen brain science and how development affects behavior.

4. What can you do? Communicate with your teen Allow for the time to have one on one connections with your kids Get to know their friends Communicate with parents Work as a team Say NO! It is your job to protect your kids. Being friends with your kids comes later, do what is best for their safety and the safety of others.

5. You mean talk to them?

6. Parents and families face one of the most difficult battles in today’s society – that of raising drug free children. Communication is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal in keeping our kids off drugs. Yet for some reason, it is the most feared, and is seldom used. We as parents, educators, and supportive organizations, must set the tone, set the standards, and set the societal norm. We must talk to our children on a continuing basis about the dangers of drugs, and be active participants in their lives. Together we can change the face of drug addiction in our communities.

7. You mean talk to them? Best places to talk with kids While driving in the car and not facing each other Take a walk together – walk the dog Go throw a ball around, or play some soccer Cook together Listen for the right conversation starter “…the star quarterback just got suspended for drinking…” “…Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail time…” Allow your kid to be curious and ask questions Be honest to them!

8. Create time to be together Kids want their freedom, but also thrive in structured settings Create jobs within the family to provide responsibility and importance Set up a night each week where they cook – they choose meal, make list, etc. Family meetings to make travel plans together, agendas, etc. Homework done at kitchen table while you cook – conversations happen Family game or movie night

9. Know before they go… Where are they going? Who will be there? When is this happening? Will parents be there? What are the other parents’ expectations? What expectations do you have for your own child?

10. Parents Make a Difference Underage Drinking in Washington: Something to Talk About Underage Drinking in Washington: Something to Talk About

11. Parents Make a Difference Be involved in your student’s life Get to know their friends and their parents Set clear expectations and stick to them! Communicate your expectations to friends’ parents Know what’s happening online and on the phone You set the boundaries – set the texting to OFF after 9pm Have access to passwords for email and social media sites Pop up unannounced – bring drinks to the boys while skating, go grocery shopping Keep an eye out Keep you kids away from unsupervised locations and just “hanging out” around town

12. Community Matters Take a stand – see something that doesn’t look right? Call the hotline or 911 – Don’t turn the other cheek It takes a village, and being a parent is HARD. Team up with other parents to have similar guidelines and expectations. Together we can change what our kids do, and have available to them Dealers aren’t always the big scary dude in a beat up car….they could be a kid you have known since preschool. Be aware of what is happening around the island and where kids are hangin’ out. Keep an eye on them.

13. Be the fearless leader It’s OK to say NO to your teen and feel like the only one Know that you aren’t alone – make a call and talk to other parents, you may be surprised what you find out Stay one step ahead of your child and their friends – together parents can do this.

14. Their Future is in your hands Does tradition have to take the lead? Who makes that decision anyway? What expectations do you have for high school? Think about the social events now, not when your kids are changing their minds every 3 minutes (trust me on this one) Homecoming Prom High School is not a time to let go and turn the parenting over to the child

15. Their Future is in your hands Be clear on what your expectations are about drinking, drugging, sex, driving, etc. Let your feelings be known, talk without lecture, and talk often Don’t let your child go to another’s home without talking to their parents – who will be there, what are their expectations? Trust your gut! Parents gain instincts that can’t be explained to kids, there is a reason why we get those aches and pains.

16. It is our responibility Furnishing Liquor In Washington State it is against the law for any person to give, sell, or supply liquor to anyone under the age of 21. Providing alcohol to someone under age 21 is considered "furnishing liquor." It is also against the law to allow anyone under the age of 21 to consume liquor on your premises. This includes allowing minors to drink at your house, in a building, on your property, in one of your vehicles or your boat. A violation of the furnishing liquor statute is a gross-misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and up to a $5000 fine. While many parents may think it is responsible to supervise people under the age of 21 who drink alcohol, the Washington State Legislature does not agree and has made such supervision a crime. Thus, if parents allow a party where alcohol is available to people under age 21, the parents are violating the law. However, it is not against the law for a parent or guardian to provide alcohol to his or her child or dependant if that alcohol is consumed in that person's presence.

17. Parents Make a Difference See your child’s friends’ parents here? Spend a few minutes together talking about this information and what you can do to make a difference in our children’s lives.

18. Bibliography: Start Talking Now. “National Data About Underage Drinking.” Start Talking Now. 2011-2. 20 September 2011. www.starttalkingnow.org/facts/national-data-about- www.starttalkingnow.org/facts/national-data-about- underagedrinking Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. “Reports of State and Local Results.” Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. 06 May 2011. 20 September 2011. www.hys.wa.gov/Reporting/Default.aspx Winters, Ken. “Why do Teens Act this Way?” A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Brain. 2010. 20 September 2011. www.teenbrain.drugfree.org/science/index/html