Five- to nine-year-olds still think and learn primarily by experience and they don’t have a good understanding of things that will happen in the future. The world is seen as the child wishes it to be and fact and fantasy mingle easily. Children of this age needrules to guide their behavior. Discussions about alcohol and other drugs must be in the
here and now, and relate to people and events the child knows about.
What You Can Do
- Make sure your child understands the family’s rules.
- Emphasize the importance of good health by talking about the things people do to stay healthy such as brushing teeth and washing hands.
- Discuss how TV advertisers try to persuade children to buy their products.
- Practice ways to say no with your child by describing situations that may make your child feel uncomfortable: being invited to ride a bike where you do not allow your child to go, or being offered medicine or another unfamiliar substance.
- Put together a phone list of adults (neighbors, teachers, fire departments) in the community for which your child can rely on. Talk about the kind of help each person on the list can provide in case of various unexpected situations.
By the end of the 3rd grade your child should know:
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What an illicit drug is, why it is illegal, and what harm it can do
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How foods, poisons, medicines and illicit drugs differ
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How medicines help during illness and how they can be harmful if misused
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Why it is important to avoid unknown and possibly dangerous objects, containers and substances
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Which adults you want your child to rely on for answers to questions
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Which foods are nutritious and why exercise is important
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What the school and home rules are about drugs and alcohol How using alcohol and other drugs is illegal for all children