LEAF Blog

Children and teens face tough stuff everyday—from going to school to keeping up with friends to managing stress in our fast-paced world, all within the limits of a developing brain and body.

A traumatic event only adds to a child’s cognitive and emotional load.

November is a month dedicated to childhood grief awareness. While it’s not something we like to picture, approximately six million children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time the child turns eighteen (source: Judi’s House).

Children and teens are especially in need of support during these difficult times. A child’s grief can sometimes be overlooked during a crisis—or well-meaning adults may shield the child from the reality of death.

According to Harvard, children need just one stable relationship with a trusted adult to develop resilience.

It’s never too early to start the conversation about substance use. As soon as children are able to converse, parents can start teaching them how to make healthy choices—a skill that will serve them well in adulthood. Here are ten tips for talking with little ones about substance use.

Part of raising children is teaching them what they need to know for independent adult life. One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is education about substance use. 

In a world where many substances are all too easy to access (and sometimes even encouraged), it’s important for your child to understand the risks associated with alcohol, drugs, and nicotine.

Read on for our breakdown on having The Substance Talk with children of any age.

“In the United States, youth use e-cigarettes, or vapes, more than any other tobacco product,” according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Over two million middle- and high-school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2023 (CDC 2024).

Nicotine in any form, however, can damage a young person’s developing brain. Read on to learn how—and what parents, adults, and caregivers can do to help prevent underage vape use.

As a parent, finding out your child has experimented with substances can be a bit shocking. What should you do?

Read on for an overview of why teens may seek out substances—and how adults can help them.

With children of any age, it’s important to communicate clearly, firmly, and lovingly about the effects of substance use. Teens in particular may need guidance to make healthy choices around drugs, alcohol, or nicotine.

Read on for our guidelines on how to talk with your teen about substances.