Summer 2005

Six rules when school's out

WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS and the sun begins to sizzle, thoughts of picnics, vacations, pool parties, and barbecues pop into the minds of many people, young and old.

Many people look forward all year long to relaxing and having fun in the summer sun with friends and family. But excessive drinking and use of illegal drugs, especially among youths, can lead into danger zones.

In fact, among young people between the ages of 12 and 18, there is a 38 percent increase in marijuana initiation during June, July, and August, compared to the rest of the year, according to the 2003 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The Survey also reveals that the number of young people who start using alcohol and smoking cigarettes rises during the summer months.

The summer months are often a time when teenagers do not have a firm schedule, as they do during the school year. They may not know what to do with all the free time they have once school is out and many sports and other extracurricular activities have packed up the equipment for the summer. Since both parents frequently work, many young people are unsupervised for at least a portion of the day and are able to do things their parents wouldn't ordinarily allow them to do.

To help parents cope with this problem, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has developed a new campaign called School's Out. School's Out makes the following recommendations for parents whose children will be home for the summer:

• Set Rules
• Understand and communicate
• Make sure you know where your teen is
• Make sure you know who your teen is with
• Engage your teen in summer activities
• Reserve time for your family

Set Rules
Children need guidance as they move toward adulthood and it is important for parents to take the initiative to set rules, especially for those times when they won't be nearby. Give your child a curfew; explain that drugs and alcohol are unacceptable because they are illegal and harmful to the user and other; ask your child to let you know where he or she is, and who he or she is with, at all times; set clear rules; and let your teenager know the punishment he or she will receive if a rule is broken.

Understand and Communicate
Teenagers usually look to a parent or a friend for input on something they are unsure about. Since a teenager's peers may not always have correct information (about the dangers of drugs, for instance), parents should take that first step and communicate with their child about important matters.

Make a point of calmly listening to your child's viewpoint and explaining your feelings without overreacting. If your child feels like he or she can have an open conversation with you, he or she will be more likely to open up and tell you when he or she is confronted with a difficult issue.

Know where your teen is
Teenagers who are unsupervised while their parents work have a greater opportunity to take risks that might be dangerous. In addition, when teenagers are out with friends, parents might be unaware what they are doing and if they might be exposed to a risky situation.

Protect your child by requiring that you know where he or she is spending his or her free time. While you are away from home, ensure that your child is occupied and safe by arranging activities, such as day camp. Or, arrange with other local parents for a trade-off, where parents take turns spending the day somewhere fun, such as a pool or a park, with a small group of children. If neither of these options is feasible, plan activities in or near home to keep your teenager busy and call from time to time to ensure that he or she is safe.

When your teenager is out with friends, make sure you know where he or she will be and how to contact him or her. Also, ensure that your child and his or her friends have some sort of activity planned, such as going to see a movie, so they won't be as likely to find themselves in a risky situation.

Even when you know where your teen is, make sure you know what he or she is doing. Monitor television and Internet use, since young people can be exposed to harmful messages and dangerous people through these media outlets.

Know who your teen is with
Teenagers are at a critical age where they want to impress their friends while simultaneously making their parents happy. When their parents aren't around, teens often focus on fitting in and looking "cool" to their friends, and this could sometimes mean making poor choices.

To help prevent dangerous situations, such as your teenager and his or her friends experimenting with drugs or alcohol, get to know your teen's friends. Some suggestions for fun ways to meet them include working with your teen to plan a cookout or a pool party for his or her friends or inviting one or two of your child's friends, plus their parents, over for dinner.

Parents can also help their child by practicing ways that he or she can refuse any offers of drugs or alcohol from friends. Refusing an offer of drugs or alcohol can be as simple as "no thanks." Here are some other ways your teen can turn down an alcohol or drug offer, as suggested by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's Behavior Change Expert Panel:

• "No thanks. It's not for me."
• "I tried drinking and I got sick."
• "Why would I want to mess up a good thing?"
• "That's illegal. I don't want to get in trouble."
• "I could get kicked off the team if anyone found out."

Engage your teen in summer activities
Teenagers might need encouragement to try new things and meet new people, as it sometimes can be easier to watch TV or surf the Web. But, so many fun opportunities are available for young people, especially during the summertime, when they have time to spare.

Sign your child up for summer camp, either as a camper or a counselor. Encourage your child to join a summer sports team, such as a local swim team or learn a new sport, such as tennis or volleyball. Show your child the range of classes offered through your local department of recreation; some counties offer a large variety of classes such as photography, martial arts, cooking, painting, music, and sailing. Even better, suggest that you and your child take a class together, so that you can both learn something new while spending time together.

Another fun activity you can introduce to your child is volunteering within the community. Your teenager could volunteer on his or her own by helping an older person with lawn care or housekeeping or donating clothes or toys to a homeless shelter, for example. Or, your child might enjoy meeting new people while volunteering at a hospital, soup kitchen, or humane society.

Reserve time for your family
While teenagers might suggest that they prefer spending time with their friends, young people benefit from their parents' attention. Plan a weekly "date" with your child and do something you will both enjoy. Some suggestions include:

• Go out to eat lunch or dinner, even an ice cream cone
• Take a day trip to an outlet mall or historical site
• See a movie
• Ride bikes through the neighborhood or at a park
• Volunteer
• Wash a car
• Find a miniature golf course and have a ball

For more information about keeping your young people safe this summer, please visit ONDCP's 'School's Out' website.Or call SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686.