Support Your Child to Plan Their End of School Celebrations

Help your child avoid some of the harms of end of school celebrations by being involved in their planning.

During the young adult years the brain undergoes many changes as it matures. A key part of the brain that is still developing is responsible for processing complex information such as decision making and being able to use information to set goals and plan. This can lead to young people making poor choices because they have difficulty anticipating the consequences of their behaviour and acting before they think. [1,2]

If your child is participating in end of school celebrations you can help them to avoid some of the harms they may face by supporting them in the planning process and providing clear, unambiguous expectations.

[1] Squeglia, L., Jacobus., J. & Tapert, S. (2009). The influence of substance use on adolescent brain development. Clinical EEG Neuroscience. 40(1):31-8

[2] Allsop, S. (2012). How to set teens up for a healthy relationship with alcohol. Available at: http://theconversation.com/how-to-set-teens-up-for-a-healthy-relationship-with-alcohol-7370.