Alcohol education awareness activities are fun and important way for kids to learn about both the dangers of alcohol and how to say no. Different age groups may respond more to different activities but there are a few tips that apply across the board.

• Build your children's self-esteem. Do this through playing games with him or making art pieces – whatever he enjoys and is good at. During these activities, you can talk about drugs, even make an art piece around it or play a game that describes the effects. Make learning a multi-sensory experience and it's more likely to make an impression
• Treat your children with respect as an individual with opinions and feelings. Practice what they will say when offered alcohol. Giving them support to do their own thing when around family will help them be strong with their friends. You can even give them the words: "I've got a game tomorrow; I can't." Or, "I'll be grounded for about a year and a half if I even smell like that stuff." Or, "That smells nasty. What is it? Where did you get it? You need to give that back to the bum you stole it from. I wouldn't drink that stuff if you paid me."

Online Activities

If you're child spends a great deal of time online or on the computer, you can check out these online games that focus on the effects and dangers of drugs. They are provided by the National Institute on Drugs web site for teenagers .

• Dr. NIDA's Challenge – Here you take a tour of the human body and get a close up look at what happens when someone uses drugs. The challenge: build a healthy body. Flash plug-in is needed for play.
• HIV, AIDS, and Drug Abuse Game – Answer the questions and make your way through the maze. See if you have what it takes to find your way out of using – and the maze.
• NIDA Libs - Marijuana – Fill-in-the-blanks game where you write your own story.
• Sara's Quest – Find out how the brain responds when someone uses a variety of drugs. Flash plug-in is needed for play.
• Space Wrangler Game - Answer the questions and shoot the asteroids. Don't get bombed!