Juvenile-HD
Alcohol-Talking To Your Child
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SECTION 1 - AT RISK
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SECTION 2 - GENETIC TESTING
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SECTION 3 - JHD
Coping With The Early Years
Age of HD Appearance
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Talking With Children About HD
INDEX Page
www.KidsHealth.org
More than 54% of the children surveyed in a recent study by the federal government had
tried alcohol by the time they reached eighth grade. Experts suggest that parents play the
most important role in determining how children handle the temptation to drink alcohol.
In order to help prevent alcohol abuse in children, parents should begin discussing alcohol
use and abuse with their children at an early age and continue openly communicating
throughout their children's development.
Communication Is the Key
"Create an atmosphere early on where it is OK to ask questions and where no question is
dumb," Linda Quistad-Berg, a consultant with the Minnesota
Prevention Resource Center, suggests. "This sets the stage for Child and father
perhaps more important questions about alcohol later on."
Preschoolers
Alcohol education may seem unnecessary for preschoolers, but
the attitudes and habits that are formed during this stage can
greatly influence the decisions children make later. Although 3-
and 4-year-olds are not ready to learn statistical facts about
alcohol or other drugs, they can begin to develop the decision-
making and problem-solving skills they will need later.
For example, begin to allow your toddler to select what she
wants to wear. Try not to worry if the choices don't quite match.
Instead, let your child know you think she is able to make good decisions. Encourage her
to perform age-appropriate tasks and let her know what a big help she is.
Ages 4 to 7
Children in this stage still think and learn primarily by experience and they don't have a
good understanding of things that will happen in the future. Therefore, discussions about
alcohol should be kept in the present and related to people and events your child knows
about. Alcohol educators often call those opportunities "teachable moments." For example,
watching TV with your child can provide a chance to talk about advertising messages. Ask
your child questions about the ads and encourage her to ask questions as well, such as
"Do you think drinking beer makes people more popular or good-looking?"
Most children at this age are interested in how their bodies work, so this is a good time to
talk about maintaining good health and avoiding substances that might harm the body.
Ages 8 to 11
The later elementary school years are crucial in influencing decisions about alcohol use.
Children at this age love to learn facts, especially strange ones, and they are eager to
learn how things work and what sources of information are available to them. Openly
discuss facts about alcohol: the long- and short-term effects and consequences of its use,
the effects of alcohol on different parts of the body, and why it's especially dangerous for
growing bodies.
Friends become very important at this age. A child's interests may be determined by what
her group of friends thinks. Teach your child to say "no." Casual discussions about alcohol
and friends can take place at the dinner table as part of your normal conversation: "I've
been reading about young kids using alcohol. Do you ever hear about kids using alcohol or
other drugs in your school?"
Ages 12 to 17
By the time your child is a teenager, she should have learned the facts about alcohol, and
she should have been exposed to your attitudes and beliefs about substance abuse. Your
aim should be to reinforce what has already been taught and to keep the lines of
communication open.
During the teen years, your child is more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Her
increasing need for independence may make her to want to defy your wishes as a way of
asserting her freedom. But the chances of communicating positively with your child
increase if she feels that you accept and respect the person she is now: a person who
wants to be liked and accepted by her peers and who needs a certain degree of privacy
and trust. You can help show your respect by avoiding discipline methods such as
excessive preaching and threats.
"Teens often act like they don't need affection, but they do," Quistad-Berg says. "Say, 'I
love you, and I am concerned about you. That's why I want you to know about this or
why I want to talk about this.'"
 5 Stages of HD
JHD Resources
SECTION 4 - SYMPTOM
RECOGNITION
Parent Resources
8 Fears of A Chronic Illness
Anxiety/Apathy/Irritability~HD
Anxiety, Fears & Phobias
Apathy-Physician's Guide
Ataxia
Attention-Perceptual/Unawareness
Physician's Guide
Bed/Pressure Sores
Bed/Pressure Ulcer Guideline
Behavior Management
Bi-Polar Disorders
Botulinum toxin therapy
Bradykinesia
Caring Tips
Child Abuse-Reconizing Signs
Chorea-Physician's Guide
Chorea
Cognitive/Decision Making/Impulsivity
Cognitive-Short Tips
Contractures~Joints Locking
Dehydration-Physician's Guide
Dehydration
Delirium
Denial of HD
Depression~Physician's Guide
Depression-Understanding It
Depression-How To Help
Depression - Treatment Resistant
Patient
Depression-Other Resources
-Read If Your Child Is On
Antidepressant
Disgust - Impaired Recognition in HD
Dissociative disorders
Driving - Physician's Guide
Dyslexia
Dyslexia Resources
Dystonia
Dystonia/Rigidity & Spasticity
Physician's Guide
Dystonia-Predominant Adult-Onset
HD
Epileptic Seizures and Epilepsy
Epilepsy-Seizures~PG
-Seizures ~Special Populations
Falling~Safety
Falling - Subdural Hematoma Risk
Fevers - Unexplained
Fevers, sweating & menstural cycles
in HD
GERD (Stomach)
HD Principle Treatments
Hallucinations/Psychosis~PGHD
Hand muscle reflexes in HD
Hypothalamus - A Personal Theory
Insomia ~Physician's Guide
Irritability~Temper Outburst
Physician's Guide
Learning Disability
Mania/OCD~Physician's Guide
Mood Disorder Rate In HD
Myoclonus (Movements)
Nails-What To Look For
Teaching Your Child to Say No
You can teach your child various approaches to deal with offers of alcohol.
Teach your child to ask questions. If an unknown substance is offered, she can ask,
"What is it?" or "Where did you get it?"
Teach your child to explain why she is not interested in drinking, with statements
such as "I'm seeing a movie that night" or "I don't want to get a hangover."
Teach your child to suggest other things to do. If a friend offers alcohol, she can
offer other alternatives like going out to dance or renting a movie.
Remind your child that she should leave a situation if she doesn't feel comfortable
with what's going on. Make sure she has money for transportation or a phone
number where she can reach you or another responsible adult.
Teach your child never to accept a ride from someone who has been drinking. Some
parents find that offering to pick up their children if they are in an uncomfortable
situation - no questions asked - helps encourage kids to be honest and call when
they need help.
Risk Factors
Research suggests that periods of transition such as the onset of puberty or a parents'
divorce can lead to alcohol use. Parents should teach their children that although life can
sometimes be upsetting or stressful, drinking alcohol to escape difficult times can make a
bad situation much worse.
Children who have problems with self-control or low self-esteem are more likely to abuse
alcohol. These kids may not believe that they can handle their problems and frustrations
without taking something to make them feel better.
Children who lack a sense of connectedness with their families or who feel they are
different in some way, such as their appearances or economic levels, may also be at risk.
Children who find it hard to believe in themselves desperately need the love and support
of parents or other family members.
In fact, not wanting to harm the relationships between themselves and the adults who
care about them is the most common reason that young people give for not using alcohol
and other drugs.
General Tips
Fortunately, there is a lot that parents can do to protect their children from using and
abusing alcohol:
Always be a good role model. Consider how your use of alcohol or medications may
influence your child. You may want to consider offering only non-alcoholic beverages
at parties and other social events to show your children you don't need to drink to
have fun.
Educate yourself about alcohol so you can be a better teacher to your child. Read
and collect information that you can share with your child and other parents.
Try to be conscious of how you can help build your child's self-esteem. For example,
children are more likely to feel good about themselves if you emphasize their
strengths and positively reinforce healthy behaviors.
Teach your child to manage stress in healthy ways, such as by seeking help from a
trusted adult or engaging in a favorite activity.
Love your child unconditionally.
Updated and reviewed by: Kim Rutherford, MD
Date reviewed: August 2001
Originally reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD, and Jonathan Schneider, DO
Source: KidsHealth www.KidsHealth.com is a project of The Nemours Foundation which is dedicated to improving
the health and spirit of children. Today, as part of its continuing mission, the Foundation supports the operation of a
number of renowned children's health facilities throughout the nation, including the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for
Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Nemours Children's Clinics throughout Florida. Visit The Nemours
Foundation to find out more about them and its health facilities for children http://www.nemours.org/no/
 Night Terrors
Obsessive Compulsive OCD
Panic Disorder
Personality disorders
Pneumonia
Pneumonia-Advanced Stages
Pneumonia - Aspirated (Inhaled)
Prosody - Social Impairment
Sexuality~Physician's Guide
Skins Sensitivity
Sleep Disorders
Smoking-Physician's Guide
Spasticity
Stress
Tremors
Why Certain Symptoms Occur
Symptom & Treatment Resources
SECTION 5 - COMMUNICATION
Communication Resources
Communication Problems
Communication Strategies For
HD~Jeff Searle
SECTION 6 -
EATING/SWALLOWING/NUITRITION
Hints For Weight Loss in HD
HD & Diet~HSA Fact Sheet 7
Nutrients: Some Possible Deficiency
Symptoms
Nutrition and HD~Anna Gaba
(Recipes)
Nutrition Information In HD~Naomi
Lundeen
Speech & Swallowing~Lynn Rhodes
Swallowing & Nutrition Physician's
Guide To HD
Swallowing & Nuitrition Resources
Swallowing Warning Signs
5 Swallowing Problems
Taste changes in HD
Weight Gain
Resources-Drinks/Shakes
-Feeding Tubes~Advanced Stages of
HD
-Feeding Tube~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes: One More Word
~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes & Baby Foods
-Feeding Tube~Dental Care
-Feeding Tube Instructions~Jean
Miller
-Feeding Tube Resources
SECTION 7 - THERAPIES
Finding a Therapist - Behavoir
What Is A Physiotherapist?
Physical Therapy In HD
Speech-Language Therapy
Therapy Descriptions
Therapy Resources- Easter Seal
Therapy Resources
SECTION 8 - MEDICATIONS
HD Treatments
Medications-Movement Disorders
Medication/Emergency Info Forms
Cutting Prescriptions
Drugs-Look 'Em Up
-Adolescents Under 25
-Antidepressant Adverse Effects
-Anti-psychotic
 -Anxiety-Antidepressant
A-Z Mental Health Drugs
-Creatine
-EPA~Fish Oil
-Haldol/Haloperidol - Clinical Sheet
-Haldol~Clinician Description
-Haldol & HD
-Haldol/HD Patient Experiences
-Haldol~ Patient Handout
-Mood Stabilizers: ASK 3 Questions
-Neuroleptic Malignant Synd
WARNING
-Olanzipine-Risperidone/blood tests
-Celexa/Luvox/Paxil/Prozac/Zoloft
-Psychiatric Drugs & Children
Sertraline ~Zoloft
-Spasticity Meds/Treatments
-SSRI Medications
-Tardive Dyskinesia WARNING
-Weight Gain Medications
-Sites/Help the Medicine Go Down
-Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies
SECTION 9 - SURGERIES
Surgery-Movement Disorders
o Surgery Resources
SECTION 10 - PROCEDURES
Clinic Visits-How To Prepare
CT Scans, MRI's etc.
Swallowing Tests
Tests Commonly Used
o Procedures Resources
SECTION 11- ALCOHOL/DRUGS
Alcohol-Parent's Guide
Alcohol-Talking To Your Child
Drugs-What To Do?
Drugs-Talking To Your Child
Disciplining-Ages 0-13 & Up
SECTION 12- SUICIDE
Straight Talk On Suicide
Teen Suicide-You Need To Know
o Suicide Resources
SECTION 13 - DIVORCE
Divorce & Child Stress
Tips For Divorcing Parents
SECTION 14 - DISABILITY ISSUES
Guides To Disability Issues
Caring-Child & Medical Technology
Caring for a Seriously Ill Child
Child Long Term Illness
Disability-Special Education Plan
IFSP Early Intervention Process
Disability Resources
Financial Planning
Wishes Can Come True-Children's
Wish Foundations
Special Needs Resources
Special Needs Camp - About
Special Needs Camp - Finding One
SECTION 15 - ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Child Assistive Technology
Adaptive Equipment Resources
Products
SECTION 16 - EMOTIONAL ISSUES
Signs of Unhealthy Self-Esteem
Emotional Behavior Links
 o Emotional Support Resources
SECTION 17 - GRIEF
Helping Child Deal With Death
o Grief Addtional Resources
SECTION 18 - ADD/ADHD
ADD & Teens
Conduct Disorders
FAQS & Related Info
Understanding AD/HD
What Is AD/HD?
Research Articles
Resources
SECTION 19 - HD SUPPORT
GROUPS
HD Support Groups
National Youth Association
SECTION 20 - HD LINKS
HD Links
Related Resources
Tips For Friends
SECTION 21 -
BENEFITS/INSURNACE
HD Disability
Benefits Check UP - See What You
Can Get
Medical Insurance Bureau's Facts On
You!
Medicare-Medicaid
Medicare Rights-Home Health &
Hospice
Medicare Rights Center Resources
No Insurance? Try This!
Prescription Drug Cards Part I
Prescription Drug Cards Part II
Social Security-Children With
Disabilities
SECTION 22 - ARTICLES/JHD
JHD and ADD
SECTION 23 - CAREGIVING
Articles-Resources
Caregiver Self-Assessment
Caregiver's Handbook
"First Shift With A Person With HD"
Getting Respite Care/Help At Home
Helpful Forms-Info
Home Emergency Preparations
Symptom Management
Ten Tips
Useful Tools
SECTION 24 - BIO
Our Personal Experience
Coping At The End
Kelly E. Miller
Song & Verse
Letter From My Heart
GUESTBOOK