February 29...

February 29, comes once every four years. We don’t think about this day unless it is a leap year. The reason I bring this up is because we need to talk about drugs, alcohol, safety and making healthy choices everyday with our children. Not just once in a while, or this case, every four years!

Talking to our children about making healthy choices is something we need to do often, if not everyday. We need to make this a habit, use teachable moments, role play and talk, talk, talk. Don’t over load your children; give them just a little at a time. After a while your children will stop rolling there eyes at you and play along. They just may have fun with this and learn something along the way!

One of the most effective ways to teach your children how to be prepared and handle these situations is to act it out with them. Have fun and role play with them. Maybe you play the child first and they play the stranger, the friend or neighbor. Then you can reverse the roles. Talk about what happened, provide feedback that offers suggestions for improvement and most importantly, offers high praises when they get it right. A little everyday last a life time….. Now go practice!