Shaping America’s Next 250 Years: Conversations That Matter
As we celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, this historic milestone serves as a chance to reflect on our nation’s past, have conversations that matter, and look towards the future.
Today’s kids will shape our country’s next 250 years, and summer is a good time to talk with your kids about healthy choices. These everyday conversations can help kids build confidence, responsibility, and the skills they need – we challenge you to take 250 seconds (4 minutes, 10 seconds!) to keep the conversation going this summer:
Spark a conversation about underage drinking to help kids make healthy choices.
Since you’re the #1 influence on your child’s decision to drink – or not drink – alcohol, take 250 seconds to have a conversation about the dangers of underage drinking this summer. Our conversation starters and infographic can help you get started and don’t forget to carry a positive attitude.
Empower kids to be brave by practicing refusal strategies.
In real situations, kids are better prepared to stand up to their peers if they’ve had the chance to practice safe decision making. Practice what to say – spend 250 seconds role playing and talking through these scenarios over the summer. This helps kids know what to say when confronted with these situations:
- You’re at a friend’s house for a sleepover and they start drinking. They offer you alcohol . What do you say?
- Your friends call you “lame” for refusing a drink. How do you react?
- How might you make an exit when you’re with your friends and want to get away from an uncomfortable situation?
Pledge to prioritize mental health.
Kids notice how we take care of ourselves. So set aside 250 seconds of your day to prioritize your mental health. By demonstrating and talking about the importance of mental health and modeling healthy self-care strategies, kids learn the benefits of healthy coping strategies. This makes them more likely to say “NO” to unhealthy coping strategies like underage drinking and substance abuse.
Develop their independence and freedom with conversations about responsibility.
Summer provides an opportunity for kids to exercise increased independence and with this independence comes responsibility. Even though school is out for the summer, keep the learning going with just 250 seconds of conversations about responsibility. Our Responsible Choices, Responsible Summer blog post provides practical life-long lessons every kid should know.
Celebrate safe and responsibly
If hosting celebrations with alcohol, set aside 250 seconds to create separate and distinct spaces for alcoholic beverages and non-alcohol drinks. Throughout the celebration make sure kids know which beverages are for them and be aware of risky behaviors, whether involving alcohol or fireworks.
This summer, even a few intentional minutes can make a difference. A simple conversation now can help your middle school child build the confidence to make healthy choices all year long. Wishing you a healthy and safe summer!
-The Ask, Listen, Learn team