My DD and her best friend, both in 4th grade, were sitting at the table last night eating pizza before dance. My DS, 2nd grade, was there, too. I'm in and out of the area picking things up so they aren't really talking to me but I can hear what they are saying. My kids and all of their friends speak openly around me so they aren't trying to hide their conversation.

It seems there are a 4 or 5 4th graders who are now smoking cigarettes as well as pot. Some of the 5th graders are, too. They started naming them and giving very specific details. It was specific enough that I have no doubt it is true. The kids were talking about it on the playground. I asked how they can even get access to pot at that age and they told me they steal it from older siblings and one of the dad's girlfriends. By now, I'm sitting down and asking questions.

Yes, all 3 kids have been asked on different occasions if they want to learn how to smoke cigs or pot. One kid even told them how to roll a joint. Wow. I was pretty floored that a kid that age would know that.

If you haven't talked to your kids about drugs because you don't think they need to know, you are so wrong. Give them the good knowledge so they can fight the bad knowledge they learn from other kids.

By Yjja123 on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:30 am:

Good advice! I have talked to my children since kindergarten. Sadly, I think it is necessary in this day and age. Knowledge is power! Empower your children to make the right choices.

By Cat on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:46 am:

That's really sad. Both my kids know that you do not take anything unless prescribed by a doctor (and Robin hates taking any meds but unfortunately has to daily) and they both dispise smoking and aren't at all shy about telling complete strangers "That's bad for you!" lol They've even asked my fil "Pepa, when are you going to quit smoking?" He tells them someday (never). I feel for the kids your dd and friends were talking about. I also think that not only their parents have failed them (to a certain extent--we aren't with our kids 24/7 and can't control their every move) but the schools have failed them, too. Our school does SO much with the "Just say no" campaign. Does your school have that? If not, it'd be something to suggest they look into. And maybe it's just me but I'd be tempted to talk to the counsilor or principle. These kids are so young! I hate to see them continue down this path.

By Kernkate on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 11:08 am:

Dora, Great Advice they are never to young to learn this important lesson.
And keep on telling them about drugs all through the years no matter how old they are or no matter how much they think they know.
I have been involved with many Just Say No and Red Ribbon weeks in our local school after the death of my DSD due to a drug overdose. Drugs are one topic that has really hit home with our family. Something we never thought would be an issue while our kids were growing up. We did talk to all our DK's all the time while they were all growing up. My Dad was Chief of Police and always made them all aware of the drugs and the problems. All it takes for one of your kids to get in with one wrong friend and thats it. We have learned this the hard way.
Go to the school and make them aware of the many campaigns that are to promote Drug Free. I would encourage this in all schools.
In our small town and many towns around us pot is out and the biggest drug the kids are doing is Heroin. Its such a shame that no matter where you live drugs are running rampid.
And the sad part is we always think "Not our Kid" but as many parents have found out, it could be our kid. Sadly to say.

By Tayjar on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 11:18 am:

Our school does a ton of drug education. Our churches do, too. In fact, they have been holding town meetings to talk to parents and kids about drinking and drugs. But, unfortunately, I think we have older adults in town that think they need to focus their energies on the jr/senior high kids. They do educate the grade schoolers but not to the degree they do the older ones.

I know some of the parents of these kids and I do know they've talked to them and are very active in their lives. These kids, with the exception of 2 of them, all are active in church groups, are active in sports and other activities, and are kids you would think are "nice" kids.

Our new principal is younger and more in tune with kids, especially since he has twin DDs in 3rd grade. He is planning on making some changes.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 12:40 pm:

Ditto! They are never to young to learn what is bad for them.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 01:01 pm:

Sarah is 16 and a half. She says she has never been asked to smoke a cigarette, smoke pot, or have a drink. I don't think Emily has, either, but she's not right here to ask.

Whenever we see a "drug" commercial, I say to my kids, "Don't do that!" They look at me and just roll their eyes!

They also despise smoking, too.

By Mommmie on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 01:53 pm:

Wow, 4th grade. That's young!! How could you not know your 10 year old is smoking cigs or pot? They reek so much.

I have a 5th grade boy and I haven't heard anything like this. I have heard some of the older 5th graders talk about chasing girls, but my son isn't into that yet. (This is a private school that has an additional grade between K and 1st so a lot of the kids are a year older than mine - mine's 11 and they are 12. Mine was still in public school during K-2.) They are also experimenting with cuss words. But smokes? Not yet. I will stay alert for it though. Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate it!

By Cocoabutter on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 02:34 pm:

Absolutely!

As I just said a few days ago, these days we parents can't afford to wait for our kids to ask us questions about ANYTHING from sex to drugs to drinking, and goodness knows what else. We need to be proactive rather than reactive.

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:01 pm:

Ds is in the Young Marines program and part of the program is drug awareness. Once a month they devote one meeting to drug awareness and we sit down afterwards and discuss what they talked about in the meeting. I overheard ds 8 telling dd 4 that smoking was not funny (I don't know what brought it up) and that it can KILL YOU. Then he added in besides it gives mommy a terrible headache so lets not play like that ok? I don't know where she would have recently seen anyone smoking unless she saw it in a movie becuase we don't smoke and I don't even think we know anyone here in VA that does. I talked to her about it and she hasn't brought it up since.