| Approximately 80% of adult smokers surveyed | | | | A teen counselor I spoke with recently offered the |
| started before they turned 18. This translates into 5 | | | | following suggestions to parents: |
| million of our children living today will die due to | | | | 1. Try spending 15 minutes a night listening to your |
| smoking. (CDC and Prevention Survey). | | | | children without a TV on or some video game in the |
| Over 50% of teens 12-17 state marijuana is easy to | | | | child's hand. It can start out as simple as "how was |
| obtain (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse). | | | | your day?" It may take a few weeks, but in the end |
| 40% of all teens that admit to drinking, state that | | | | kids can tell when a parent is sincerely interested in |
| they drink when they get upset (National Household | | | | what they have to say and they will start opening up |
| Survey on Drug Abuse). | | | | to you. |
| Nearly 1/3 of college students survey said they | | | | 2. Start a written journal to your teen. Write a short |
| personally wish alcohol was not served at college | | | | note in a journal book addressed to your teen and |
| sponsored events (Core Institute Survey). | | | | leave it on their pillow. Let them write back whatever |
| Tv is watched approximately 7 hours per day | | | | they wish to you. Be sure in it to tell them when you |
| (BJK&E Media Report). | | | | are proud of an action they took or a grade they |
| Some pretty intense statistics, but who is at fault for | | | | got. You might be surprised at the results. |
| the statistics? The American Family Research Council | | | | 3. Plan one day a month to take your child to lunch. |
| Surveyed parents and teens and came up with a | | | | Just you and them. |
| total of 38.5 minutes per week that the average | | | | 4. Have a game night - let them choose the game. |
| parent spends in conversation with their children. That | | | | The statistics can only change, when we as parents |
| is less than an hour a week? We wonder why our | | | | change. It is only 15 minutes a day. Isn't your child |
| teens are in trouble. If we don't listen, we can't hear | | | | worth it? |
| them. | | | | |