Kids often want to talk but may not know how to begin. Asking these five questions in a non-judgmental way can help start the conversation.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect and talk openly about emotional well-being. This is especially true for kids and tweens. Mental health isn’t just about managing feelings; it plays a powerful role in how young people cope with stress, make decisions, and avoid risky behaviors like underage drinking.  We know that when...

Since April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, it’s a great time to pause and talk with kids about what it means to make smart and responsible choices while helping to build the decision-making skills they need to say “YES” to healthy choices and “NO” to underage drinking. While not every choice they face will involve alcohol, learning to make responsible choices now prepares them for the tougher situations they may encounter later, including those involving underage drinking.   Parents and educators play a powerful role in helping kids develop...

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 National School Counseling Week! School counselors support their students in many ways, from addressing their academic questions to helping them manage emotions to empowering them to make healthy and responsible decisions.

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.

As winter begins, we’re reminded of the simple joys of childhood. And one of our favorites is building a snowman. What starts as a single snowball can grow into something much bigger—a perfect metaphor for how we can build the foundations of meaningful conversations.

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.