The Complete Guide to Discussing Difficult Subjects With Children and Teens: Alcohol, Drugs, Sex, Relationships, and Other Hard Topics Made Easy

Children and teens typically get the facts about subjects such as alcohol, drugs, sex, divorce, death, and suicide from those closest to them — their friends. Many parents bypass talking to their children about these difficult subjects because they are uncomfortable with the topics, don’t know how to start a serious conversation, or think that situations such as these cannot happen to their child. If you, as a parent, aren’t discussing these topics with your child, you can bet someone else is, and the consequences for receiving false information can be devastating. Consider these facts by the American Academy of Pediatrics: • Four in five men and women older than 12 have tried alcohol — two and a half times the number of people who have experimented with marijuana. • The Partnership for a Drug-Free America recently sampled the opinions of approximately 9,000 youngsters aged 9 to 18. Three-quarters of the fourth-graders said that they wanted more information about drugs from their parents. • Nearly 90 percent of all smokers started when they were teens. • By age 12, a youngster’s comprehension of death approaches that of an adult’s. • Suicide is one of the three leading causes of death for 13- to 19-year-olds. • Nearly 2 in 5 teenage girls become pregnant at least once before age 20. These statistics illustrate the importance of overcoming your hesitance about discussing uncomfortable topics. It can happen to your child. The Complete Guide to Discussing Difficult Subjects With Children and Teens provides the tools necessary to create a home environment where children are encouraged to have these discussions with parents. This book explains why teens so frequently experiment with sex, alcohol, and drugs, and what to do if you suspect that your child is already using these substances. You will learn the appropriate ages for having these discussions, tips for conversation starters, how to help teens confront peer pressure, terminology for discussing these topics to avoid embarrassing your child and yourself, how to be a positive influence in your child’s life, and how to spot signs of impending trouble in your teen. Death, suicide, and divorce are equally important subjects and often more urgent to discuss. This book will help parents recognize when a child might be having difficulty understanding death or adjusting to the death of a friend or relative. Suicide is a devastating occurrence that unfortunately happens too often. Whether you suspect depression in your teen or want to open the lines of communication, this book will help you explain to your child why someone would want to commit suicide and how it can be prevented. Discover tips for talking to your child’s doctor or school authorities if you suspect your child might be thinking of suicide. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “By the age of 16, close to half of all adolescents will have seen Mom and Dad divorce.” Divorce can lead to countless other mental health and adjustment issues. This book will help you break the news to your child and assure him or her that your love is unconditional. We have spent hundreds of hours interviewing child psychologists, guidance counselors, and parents who can provide you with tips and advice for successfully guiding your child through important decisions. Discussing these topics can be uncomfortable and emotional for both you and your child. By instilling open communication, you can guarantee that your child will feel comfortable approaching you should he or she ever be confronted with a decision too difficult to handle on his or her own.