how do i explain to my 7 year old son the reason why some people smoke or do drugs, etc?

Answer 1

The best way to speak to your child about drugs, alcohol, and other such things is to be honest with him about it.

Tell him what smoking and drinking does to your body. Don't be graphic, obviously, but make sure he gets the hint. By the end of the talk, you want him to know 1) The dangers of doing such things, 2) That you do not want him to do such things, and 3) Tell him what you will do if he does do such things.

My parents actually scared me into not doing anything unnatural to my body (at least with drugs, alcohol and tattoos as well). To this day, I have never smoked (even a cigarette) or gotten a tattoo.

Answer 2

Tell him that some people make irresponsible decisions. Also, tell him that he doesn't have to make decisions like that. He has a choice to say no, and to live a better life. Explain that drugs are habit forming, and that once a person begins to depend on drugs, it's hard to get out of that. So even if he tries it once, he runs the chance of getting addicted. I know it's hard, hang in there. Just keep on instilling in his head, how bad drugs are.


My 8 year old asked this, not to long ago.

Answer 3

You could try what I was told at his age (by my grandmother!) about why you should not take drugs. It worked for me - she was good at doing the scary bit about being ill...

She told me that people do drugs because it makes them feel really really good, and it's like having really lovely dreams when you take them, but then they have to keep on doing them and taking *more* of them each time and the dreams are never quite as good each time. Eventually the drugs - because they are very bad for you and make you ill, even though they make you feel nice at the time - can make you very sick indeed and you can die. And all this will make your family very unhappy. And the child doesn't really want to make his/her family unhappy, eh? And it is a bad waste of money that you could be spending on nice toys and going out to fun places for the day, because drugs are very expensive too.

Actually, I think that's pretty much the truth of it, even if it is simplified for a child!

As for cigarettes and alcohol - I think almost the same could be applied. It was a bit different for me as a child because a LOT of my relatives smoked and I saw a lot of them die from smoking-related cancers, which upset me and I have never been tempted to smoke.

Answer 4

First of all smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol are legal. It's funny the resource officer at my kids school who teaches this stuff, smokes and drinks, I know him personally. Nicotine and alcohol have age limits, 18 and 21. Illegal drugs are a whole different ballgame. The D.A.R.E program at school can help teach kids about drugs. Drugfree.org is a good website to learn from.

Answer 5

be honest, i am always honest with my son. i tell him there are bad people in the world who do bad things. that is the truth. you don't want to hide the fact some people are bad, that is good knowlege for a little kid. when the subject comes up at my house i let him know the truth about "bad people" doing "bad" things i also let him know ( because he is 7 and doesnt know exactly who he is yet) that he is a good person and that he is smart for knowing these things are bad. also let him know stupid people do those things always keep that attiude about it, if he grows up thinking that stuff is for stupid people he wont want to do things dumb people do. worked for me i'm grown and i've never touched any of it i looked down on people who do that stuff

Answer 6

That is difficult for a 7 yr old to understand.
If you have to talk to them tell him the truth drug addiction
and alcholism is a desiese.These people are sick and need help

Answer 7

Say Ur child that" People who wants to die soon will smoke or drugs" Say that they are inviting Death Via "Smoke or Drugs"....

Answer 8

A seven year old? Don't even try. He should be busy playing or reading books, he should not have time to even begin to contemplate adults dysfunctional behaviour. Maybe there is something wrong with the way you are trying to bring him up

Answer 9

some people smoke r do drugs b/c there nerves r so bad that they just smoke.

Answer 10

First of all you shouldn't allow that to be happening around your child. But since your in that situation, explain to your child that it's not good and they will later on understand why these things happen.