Teaching Kindergarteners About Drugs?

Hi J.,
I think I remember when they started this. It's new and the whole basis behind this is starting early helps it stick all the way into highschool. They say we remember what we learned in Kindergarten...so, we'll see.

Hope that helps!
J. N

If you are unsure about this, ask to see a copy of the cirriculum that is being used. If it is age appropriate, what is the harm? Kids hear it young today, and waiting until 10 or 12 is not doing a child any favors. Just be sure to talk to your child at home to make sure they understand and you can supplement with what you want your child to hear from you.

I think it is wonderful that they teach them early. It is important in this day-and-age. My daughter was in kindergarten last year and learned about it, as well. I was very pleased when she came home to tell me that drugs were bad and why. She seemed very proud to have learned about how to deal with something that could harm her.

We live in a small town, but it is all over. I see 8 and 9 year-olds that are doing meth. Waiting to teach them could prove to be too late. When kids are ill-informed or not at all informed, they have no idea what to expect or how to react to drug influence. As long as there is support from home, learning about it in school is great.

At my daughter's school, they sent home a letter explaining what they were talking about and asked that we support the kids' questions and concerns.

I too, have a kindergartener this year. I am SO glad that they are already teaching about drugs and saying no. I think it is crazy to be against it. If you try to hide your child from the world then the world and the bad stuff will find your child and unfortunately you will not have done your job to teach your child what to do. Do you really want that on your conscience? I applaud the school for going to such lengths!

I personally appluad them for starting so young. We worry to much about what they might hear or see. The fact is it's out there all the time. They NEED to know from day one what is good and what is bad and how to handle situations. Wouldn't you be mad if someone offered your child drugs, she took them, and then got sick because she didn't know what she was doing could be bad? You would turn around and probably be the opposite wanting to know why the schools didn't teach your daughter that stuff sooner.

I personally don't see a problem with this. In todays world kids are being exposed to so much at much younger ages that I would love it if they spoke about drugs and the dangers of them to all grades.

I agree with you completely! My son is 4 and will be starting school in the fall. I'm happy enough, and proud to say he knows about the dangers of smoking cigarettes, and it's just plain gross. And he just might know the word drugs, but he doesn't actually know what they are yet. And honestly I feel good about that. I grew up with parents who smoked pot, (they don't anymore) so I knew what it was, and I also had to learn that it was bad for you too. So my son not knowing or seeing drugs, their names, nicknames... and however much information they tell our children at such young of an age, does bother me. I completely agree it should be talked about to kids in so much detail at 4 grade... even 3rd grade. If the subject was more general, like "drugs are bad for you" and "just say no". Then I can see that as a very good thing. So I guess it all depends on how much your daughter was exposed to, talk to the school or her teachers.

My kids' school doesn;t cover this until they are older. I know in the big city they do cover it right away. My kids' teachers always send out a newsletter every week, to tell parents about what's coming uo in the week ahead. Sensitive subjects, like stranger talk or health & body are sent with a form for parents to sign if they don't want their children included in the activity.
If ypu're not comfortable with the subject, ask for her to be excluded. If the teacher has a fit, talk to the principal.

J.,
I understand your concern that your daughter is too young to learn about drugs. I had similar concerns myself. Until my daughter starting riding the bus to school. You wouldn't believe the stuff they learn from other kids as young as 5. I'd much rather the kids be learning (and VERY early)how bad they are and why from authority figures than what other kids might say.
They grow up so fast, just make sure you talk to her and make her feel comfortable talking to you about anything.

I think the schools are doing a great job teaching children about drugs at any age. They need to know what is wrong and right, good and bad. They can be offered drugs at any age. There are people in the world that don't care and if the children are educated in the right manner they won't have to worry about getting caught n a drug circle.

I teach my daycare childrena dn my 4 year old the rights and wrongs too. It's important!!

Unfortanetly, J....this is the beggining. Kindergarten starts the drug talks and as early as 3rd grade sex ed will start. Agendas on promoting homosexuality and "helping"your child decide their sexual orientation also happens in grade school. I have done extensive resaerch and have witnessed first hand some of this. I worked as an aide in kindergarten for 7 years, also. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I agree why can't our kids be kids. why do the school systems have to push there agendas on our childeren.

My son had a campain like that in 3rd grade. I remember being very young and having the task force come into my school and ask us questions, they even lit up something that smelled like pot and asked any of us if we ever had smelled this before and to raise our hands....strange huh?
I think in this day and age, it is never to young to learn about harmful drugs. My son was the one that kept on me and reminded me how smoking is so damaging, and he called cigrettes a drug as well, after 13 years of smoking, and becaues of the efforts of my son, I quit :)
My son is a firm beliver now that drugs are bad for you, and i hope learing this at a young age will follow thru him in later years....

If the anti-drug message is being taught in an age-appropriate manner then I don't think it's ever too early. The problem with most drug campaigns is that they start at the age when many kids have already known someone taking and have had some exposure. My K-4 child has come home crying about what guns are used for (do policemen really shoot people). I've spent time in her classroom and have seen her friends pray for world peace. Kids today are much more sophisticated in their understanding of how things "work."

I don't think kids are ever too young to ask them to tell you if they ever see or hear about someone using drugs -- you never know what a big brother or sister (or parent) is up to. I'd ask the teacher if you can review the materials and I would follow up with my own talk about it. We moved between three very different communities (two fairly affluent; one much less so) growing up and by middle school at all three I knew people who were doing drugs and having sex; I can only presume it's the same or worse now!

Growing up we could always talk to my parents about anything -- and we did -- because my parents would answer our questions honestly adding, of course, their opinion and why they felt that way; but not lecturing. The result -- although we all knew lots of kids who "did" this or that, we just didn't! Starting the discussions early helps let your kids know that they can indeed come to you!

For my own part; I was so sad to see tears in the eyes of my daughter as she asked about guns; I am not sure how the discussion started at school; but I wish it would have been with a policeman, or a teacher, rather then talk on the playground as it appears. But I was glad too -- that she asked and that her reaction gave me a chance to say "I'm glad you're scared of guns, guns scare me too!" And to talk about gun safety.

Good Luck!

i don't feel that a five year is too young to teach about drugs. not all drugs are smoking pot or shooting up. my four year old son was a his grandmother's and found an aspirin laying around. he did tell us he found it but later he told me that he licked it and didn't like the taste of it. even aspirins and any meds are drugs and our children have to be taught about those too.

Your experience is just one more thing that makes me want private school. I hope private schools won't do this. I think it would be best to not tell them about drugs at this age. I think 10 or 12 might be a good age for it. Why get it in their heads now? I don't get it.

I'm already teaching my preschooler. It's NEVER too early to talk to them about drugs and sex and all that other 'unmentionable' stuff. The more knowledge they have, the better they are equipped to stay away from it. I'm so glad they have anti-drug programs in the schools!