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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
alcohol effects
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
alcohol effects
by mom2, Jul 10, 2001 12:00AM
Would seeing a step-parent drink alcohol regularly have any effect on a 5 year old girl? Will she be more lkely to drink when she's older or marry someone who does? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jul 11, 2001 12:00AM
, Jul 11, 2001 12:00AM
If the adult's use of alcohol is responsible and judicious, there is no reason to expect that this experience will pose a problem for the child. Think of the tens of thousands of children who have grown up in families in which the parent(s) drink alcoholic beverages. Most of these children develop fine. Now, it's another matter if the drinking is irresponsible and problematic, or if the child has some other direct experience with alcoholism in the family. It's not the drinking per se that is the problem, it's the nature of the drinking and the context in which it occurs.
