Does drinking in front of your children make them think that it's ok to to do it? Does it harm them?
2007-10-11 05:50:15 · 22 answers · asked by s01psb 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Kids are always curious about what their parents refuse to talk about: sex, drugs, drinking. If you hide drinking from them they'll either grow up to become ultra-conservative or delve into the behavior in secret. Set a good example, drink in moderation, At 16 my parents let me drink beer in extreme moderation, if they didn't I would have been in an abandoned parking lot drinking with the "bad" kids.
2007-10-11 09:16:59 · answer #1 · answered by NORM 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, but not to the point of getting tipsy or anything. I don't want to be a hypocrit and I don't think there's anything wrong with a glass of wine.
I come from Europe, and in Europe they don't make drinking such a big deal. A teenager can have a sip of wine (I'm saying just a sip, not a whole glass!) on special occasions, it's no big deal, the result is that when we turn adults, we don't go binge drinking, we already know what alcohol tastes like.
My parents let me have sips of their drinks growing up (they only drunk on special occasions and very little), I never got drunk in my teens or twenties, just wasn't interesting to me, but I always enjoyed tasting good wine. I'll try to raise my kid the same way.
It would be interesting to read a study comparing the USA and Europe on that subject. There's no Spring Break in Europe, nothing even comparable to it, I really think it makes a big difference if the child doesn't grow up thinking alcohol is forbidden or such a big deal.
2007-10-11 06:12:16 · answer #2 · answered by S007 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it's 100% okay to drink in front of children. It is a-okay to drink as long as you are responsible and of legal age. Kids know that and understand that. Getting hammered in front of them? Heck no, but having a beer at the dinner table isn't a bad thing. Having a glass of wine before bed I don't consider 'bad' either. Taking shots? No, If anything, drinking responsibly in front of children teaches them that alcohol isn't anything 'special.' It teaches them that it's okay to have just one beer or one glass of wine and still be responsible. Personally, I think it would harm a child more if they didn't know how to drink responsibly. I think parents who make alcohol a mystery are doing more harm then good because the kid might not understand that you don't drink to get drunk.
2007-10-11 06:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by .vato. 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
ok-depending on how you do it. It's responsible to drink infront of your kids b/c if you go around it sneakily, they are going to follow suit. I drink five nights a week with two or three wines or beers. Not a big deal. I grew up having parents who did the same. It was their European culture. Most people have a scotch when you come home from work and others have a glass of wine nightly at dinner. It's how its done and whether you're responsible with it. If your boozing drunk everynight, the kid may or may not follow suit b/c they have their own brain and will use it as an adult. Its how it's done and it should be done showing responsibility.
2007-10-11 06:20:42 · answer #4 · answered by Yummy♥Mummy 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I've always wondered if that's okay too... We have friends and family that come over during the holidays and they see all the grownups enjoying a glass of wine. When the kids were younger and asked what if that was grape juice I told them yes but that it was a drink for grownups. So far they've never questioned it... I always make sure that guests babysit their drinks when they come over to prevent the kids from accidentally taking a sip of wine.
We have also never gotten drunk in front of them. When we go to restaurants, they have watched us discuss who is going to drive and they know that if you are going to drive you don't drink... By doing this in front of them it teaches them that there are safety issues at hand when you drink.
I hope they learn that alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation. I also don't want to make it seem like a taboo. I wouldn't want to be hypocritical telling them how bad it is if I enjoy an occasional glass of wine myself.
2007-10-11 06:10:26 · answer #5 · answered by Mel 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I never drink in front of my 5 year old child. I never would take him to the liquor store with me either. He doesn't need to see me drink alcohol. I rarely drink alcohol, because I don't want to set a bad example to my son that he will think it is OK for him to drink alcohol. I don't need to bring him to the liquor store, because you have to be 19 in British Columbia to purchase it. Why bring a minor with you to the Liquor store? I have no reason to drink and buy alcohol in front of my child. That is why about once a month I get a sitter and some friends and we hang out at the pub, to watch the hockey game, dance and socialize. I only go for 3-4 hours. Babysitting adds up, drinks add up, and cab home. It gets expensive to drink out.
He used to see his father drink, when I was with him. He was a violent drunk, 18 beers in one sitting. I remember one day when my son was almost 2, he was helping his father put the beer cans from the sink into the liquor store bags.
2007-10-11 06:03:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i will now and returned have a tumbler of wine or a lager in front of my babies. I tell them it truly is a grown up drink and that as quickly as they're older then they too could have some. I decrease myself to a million-2 beers or glasses of wine and not extra advantageous than that. i don't think of it makes you a nasty discern as long as though an emergency got here up you'll be able to desire to nonetheless preform at suitable or close to suitable point. Now in case you get inebriated then it relatively is an entire different can of worms.
2016-10-22 01:14:42 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...here's some food for thought for ya...
Children can legally buy alcohol in France, however they have one of the lowest alcoholism/alcohol abuse percents in the world.
The thing is that there, it's not a big deal. Here in the US it's seen as a rite of passage. Your first drink.
I'm a big supporter of the "if they don't think it's forbidden, they won't want to do it so bad" method of parenting, so I have drank alcohol in front of my child who is 5.
She realizes that it's not normally what I drink, she knows the word beer and I've let her get enough on her tongue so that she can see it's got a yucky flavor. I'm not talking about even a swallow...just a few drops on the tongue for flavor.
My daughter understands that those drinks are for grown ups and she doesn't seem to be curious about them at all. I think my theory may have worked!
Keep in mind though that all children are different, so what works beautifully for one may backfire with another.
2007-10-11 06:02:01 · answer #8 · answered by ambertmbg1 4 · 8⤊ 1⤋
We will occasionally have a drink when the kids are around. We talk to them about responsible alcohol use often, whenever it comes up. For example, we'll make a point of saying 'Mommy had a beer at the party, so daddy's going to drive home, now'.
2007-10-11 05:59:16 · answer #9 · answered by Maureen 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes I drink in front of my children but NO I do not get drunk in front of my children. I feel that if they see me using alcohol responsible they will learn this as well.
I don't think it harms your children if you are responsible in your actions. My family always drank in Front of me a beer or a wine cooler or a glass of wine and I turned out just fine. I do not ever remember anyone being drunk in front of me and I think that would be really wrong to expose your child to.
2007-10-11 05:59:14 · answer #10 · answered by Ann D 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋