Just picked up the free ELC free mag and am a little shocked.
There is an article in there about talking to children about alcohol that says we should be giving the message that "Children don't drink alcohol" that "some adults drink alcohol,but children never should,there should be no compromise". It says the Health Visitors Association says we shouldn't be saying "Don't do as I do" It gives an example of a mum who only drinks when her children are in bed and if they see her drinking at a wedding she explains it's OK for adults to have a little alcohol on special occasions. It was presented in a way that inferred we should all be going with this approach.
Am I the only one who thinks this a little ermmmm Victorian, completely the wrong way to teach children how to respect alcohol oh and the Nanny State gone mad!!!!!!
I was brought up with wine often present at meals and we were encouraged to try it too. We travelled to France a lot and remember French children had a similar upbringing re wine. When I stayed with my French pen friend we usually were given watered down wine. Now I have children nearly 4 and 5, we often drink wine at meals and I let my dd who is interested dip her finger in to taste it and Baileys at Xmas etc. So am I completely wrong to be doing this??? Do other people?????
Am I right in thinking there isn't a drink problem in France with teenagers many of which would have had a similar upbringing as myself with alcohol ie one that fosters a healthy respect in an open environment. Surely hiding it away makes it glamourous and just something teenagers will be dying to get their hands on.
I'm happy to be corrected here as away my dc are very young so not encountered many teenagers since I was one