Teachable Media Moments

How many times have you walked into a room just in time to hear an underage TV character make a comment about drinking beer? How many times have you changed the channel when a character joked about “smoking a joint” or having a “one-night stand”? Television, music, and advertisements flood children with messages that may go against what that they have heard at home and school. Some messages teach kids that alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are dangerous; other messages make drugs and alcohol look cool.

The good news is that you can use messages from the media—TV, music, and ads—to talk with your kids about tough issues like alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Even talking during commercials can help promote a positive relationship with your child. In many ways, these “teachable moments” may be more effective than long, planned discussions—when kids are likely to tune out. Here are a few opportunities for you to capture teachable moments with your children:

Television

Stay tuned—don’t flip the channel right away or cover your children’s eyes when they’re watching questionable material. Use it to start a conversation.

If you are watching TV with your 8-year-old and marijuana is mentioned on a program, you might ask, “Do you know what marijuana is? It’s a bad drug that can hurt your body.” If your child has more questions, answer them. If not, let it go. Short, simple comments said and repeated often enough will get the message across.

You can offer your older child the same message, but add more specific information. For example, you might explain to your 12-year-old what marijuana and crack look like, their street names, and how they can affect her body. For more information on drugs, their effects, and street names, visit our Drug Facts and Drug Slang Dictionary pages.