Parents are the teachers with the strongest influence

Support prevention coalitions in your community, get involve, seek information and educate yourself on the effects and harms of alcohol and drug abuse, open the lines of communication with your children.

You are the teacher with the strongest influence because of the special parent-child bond. You spend more time with your child than any single teacher. Much of what you teach is virtually automatic. Your children pick up your ways of doing and thinking merely by observing what you do and how. You are the role-model-in chief and your kids will model many of your behaviors (including some you would rather they missed). Your children pick up many of your values by watching how you behave toward others--the core of all our values.

But wise parents make an effort to specifically teach their children additional things. Some parents want to teach their children certain skills, usually the ones they like and are best at like tennis or cooking. Some parents want to enrich their children's lives by imparting to them their own love of music, dance, collage, or their love for God.

Are there "teaching skills" that parents should have? Yes, but they derive from common sense not a degree in education.