Next week is Brain Awareness Week, a perfect opportunity to help kids understand how their developing brain works and why protecting it matters. Founded by the Dana Foundation, Brain Awareness Week highlights the importance of brain science and neuroscience education. Since Ask, Listen, Learn offers science- and evidence-based videos, lesson plans, and classroom activities, here are three ways to use our materials to help kids learn what the developing brain does, what alcohol does...

Kids are always watching and learning from the adults around them, especially when it comes to how we take care of ourselves. Setting healthy boundaries, prioritizing physical health, regulating emotions, and seeking help when needed are important behaviors to model for tweens so they see that self-care is normal and...

It’s a new year and we are thrilled to share some encouraging news about youth health and well-being. The newly released 2025 Monitoring the Future Report shows underage drinking rates have declined for the fifth year in a row, and most teens continue to say “NO” to using cannabis, too.

October 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week and this year’s theme is “Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free.” Since there are many pieces of the prevention education puzzle that need to come together to keep kids alcohol- and substance-free, here are 5 pieces to focus on to teach kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to risky behaviors like underage drinking and underage cannabis use.

As a part of the We Are Teachers Teacher Picks program, fifth and sixth grade ELA teacher and school librarian, Amy Brownlee,  endorsed Ask, Listen, Learn’s newest lesson on the Impact of Alcohol and Marijuana on Mental Health.

Ask, Listen, Learn’s underage drinking and marijuana use prevention resources have expanded to include Kahoot games to use with students.

New Ask, Listen, Learn materials—including new video assets—will aid you in supporting your kids’ mental health, talking about stress and anxiety, and explaining the impact of underage drinking and underage cannabis use on their mental health.

It’s a new school year—a great time for new resources! We are excited to announce our newest addition to the Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix prevention education curriculum. Building on our existing eight lessons exploring how alcohol and cannabis impact the developing brain, we have expanded the program to include the impact of underage drinking and underage cannabis use on kids’ mental health.

Conversations about alcohol should start early, continue often and naturally, and help kids develop the tools they need to say “NO” to underage drinking and underage cannabis use. Communicating the importance of safety and the dangers of underage drinking and underage cannabis use while sharing expectations and values are key to empowering kids to make good decisions.

Parents are the #1 influence on their kids’ decisions to drink–or not to drink–alcohol, and data shows that parent-tween conversations matter. But there’s no need to dumb it down – your kids are smart so stick to the facts! In this continuation of our Tween Talks series, we discuss what you and your kids need to know to have meaningful conversations about the dangers of underage drinking.