Talk to Your Kids!

This week my children came home with coloring books about drugs and alcohol, and I’m assuming it’s part of the D.A.R.E program or something of that nature. Ok, fine, teach my children that drugs are bad…but did the book really need to call alcohol a drug? I really think it’s up to each individual family to teach children what they believe about alcohol. For instance, I would like to teach my children that alcohol in moderation is not a bad thing. Also, when they are about 15, I plan on letting them have a glass of wine at the dinner table on special occasions, I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, Wisconsin is one of the few states, if not the only state, where if a minor is at a bar with their parent, legal guardian, or spouse who is of legal drinking age, it is legal for them to be served alcohol as well. Does this mean that I think my six year olds should have a beer with me the next time I’m at a tavern in Wisconsin? Not by any means! Alcohol consumption in my family is something done at family gatherings and special occasions, and it is common for adolescents who are not of legal drinking age to have a drink at those functions. I just want the option of being able to teach my children MY beliefs about alcohol and alcohol consumption, not what the school wants them to think or believe. The school should have sent home a permission slip about what they would be teaching, and if a parent did not agree then those children would go to a different room while that subject was being taught.

That beings said, I was shocked that my children were taught that “alcohol impairs the mind if you drink it, and that if you drink too much you lose control of your body and you don’t know what you think or say”. That’s almost verbatim what my daughter told me today. I don’t think it’s a topic that a 6 year old should be taught or even know about, and I certainly don’t want a lecture from either of my children the next time I decide to have a beer or a glass of wine.

What happened to innocence? In American society today it is more and more difficult to just let a child be a child. I mean, sure we need to teach them not to take candy from strangers, not to let anybody touch their private parts, and other useful, age-appropriate information, but do we really need to tell them everything? I know information is power, but I believe that we should let children be children as long as possible; there will be enough time for them to have to learn about and deal with the struggles of the real world.

I understand, however, why the school feels the need to teach these subjects. Yes, the parents should be the ones to teach their children about drugs, alcohol, and sex, but many parents shrug these responsibilities because of their uncomfortable nature and depend on the schools to teach their children these subjects. If the majority of parents took the time to talk to their children about these topics, as awkward or embarrassing to discuss as they might be, I wouldn’t be writing this blog right now because my children's school wouldn’t feel it necessary to teach these subjects.