When we think of who is most hurt by addiction, there will often be a palpable schism between those who believe the addict suffers most, and those who believe it’s the people around the addict. As with many things in life, both are true to a degree, and often depend on the particular nuances of a situation. One thing is for certain though, the children of someone struggling with addiction problems will have some interpersonal challenges to overcome in their life.

Left untreated, these challenges can develop into a variety of burdens which that child may then have to carry around, even if they don’t become addicted to anything themselves. As a provider of intervention services in VA, we believe it’s of the utmost importance to get in early and try to help the child or children to understand the situation. Although this can be difficult, especially with younger children, having resources readily available can guide the process to a more successful outcome. Here is a look at some resources which can help kids to understand addiction, and what to look for online.

Learning Style

One thing that is becoming abundantly clear in our modern paradigm is that people learn differently than one another. Some are better educated in the lecture format, while others prefer self-guided reading, and others may simply prefer the ease of watching a video. When it comes to children, it can be difficult to ascertain their exact learning style, so utilizing a range of different resources to try and introduce and reinforce understanding is a must.

The resources can be split into the following categories: activities, books, stories, and videos.

Activities

Preferably undertaken in person, activities are often one of the best ways to teach children anything new, as there will be a range of actions and concepts which can help to anchor the information in their mind. As addiction is a relatively common problem nowadays, there are numerous websites online packed with great activities for helping kids understand addiction.

Hazelden Betty Ford

A household name when it comes to addiction recovery, the Hazelden Betty Ford foundation has helped countless people find their recovery. While they may not be able to provide local intervention services in VA like Recovery Care Partner, their online resources are invaluable in helping families to understand and overcome the difficulties that come with addiction.

Follow this link to find a variety of printable activities which can be done with children and even teens. They also have a number of great suggestions on other resources which can be combined with the activities to reinforce understanding.

Books and Stories

As a species, we’ve used stories for millennia to pass on vital information about the world around us. Nowadays, thanks to printing presses and the internet, stories can be shared more easily, and we can learn from a variety of relatable situations which others have been in. Depending on the age of your children, you may want to read the book to them to answer any questions they have, or it may be more suitable to let them peruse it at their own pace.

Preschool to 2nd Grade (4 – 8 years old)

Children of this age won’t need as much specific information, and will learn more through metaphor and the moral of the story. The following books are suitable:

– Think of the Wind by Catherine Mercury

– Up and Down the Mountain: Helping Children Cope with Parental Alcoholism by Pamela Leib

– Daddy Doesn’t Have to be a Giant Anymore by Jane Resh Thomas

Grades 3 to 7 (8  – 13 years old)

Able to understand more complex human emotions, these children will need more relatable and emotive content than younger children. The following are suitable:

– Emmy’s Question by Jeannine Auth

– Waiting for Normal by Leslie Conner

– Tall Tales by Karen Day

Teenagers (13+ years old)

Unlike their younger counterparts, teenagers are more interested in the answer than the question, and will need more direct information. The book For Teenagers Living With a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs by Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer is an excellent resource with answers to the typical questions a teenager may have about addiction.

Of course these aren’t the only books which can help, be sure to do your own research or check out your local library for other books on the matter.

Videos for Helping Kids Understand Addiction

Best as a reinforcement rather than as the only form of education on the matter, there are countless videos online helping kids understand addiction. YouTube has become a popular format for children to watch videos on, so we suggest the following videos:

– Addiction & the Brain – For Kids! 

– Understanding Addiction as a Disease (Wait 21) 

– How Addiction Happens 

As with books, there are surely other videos out there which can be helpful, and it’s important to do your due diligence in determining their efficacy.

Recovery Care Partner Provides Intervention Services In VA

Helping someone recover from addiction isn’t easy, and can sometimes take a lot of professional help to ensure it’s success, although it is always worth it. For help with things like intervention services in VA, or guidance on any of our other services, check out our website or get in contact with us today.