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Kids can be very literal, and your child may not know how you feel about underage alcohol consumption until you make it perfectly clear.
- Tell him, "I'm completely against it for kids." Then explain exactly why.
What if you discover that your child has already experimented with alcohol? If you catch her red-handed:
- "There should be consequences," says Coleman. Curfews, grounding, or limits on phone use are some possibilities. Emphasize that drinking is illegal at her age. Remind her that if the police catch her, she could face much more severe penalties, such as being thrown out of school, having a permanent criminal record, or being summoned to court.
On the other hand, if your child comes to you with an admission, the last thing you want to do is squash that impulse. "If he tells you something and then gets in trouble for it, that's the last time your child will tell you anything," emphasizes Wolf. Instead:
- Praise his honesty, but don't let the problem go by without weighing in.
- Repeat firmly that you disapprove of his behavior, that it's highly dangerous for him, and that you expect it never to happen again.
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