Parents in denial, but kids learn drinking habits early
Friday, June 20th, 2008Stephen Lunn; 20/6/08
Children as young as two pick up attitudes to alcohol consumption from their parents that will shape their drinking patterns as adults. Yet the vast majority of parents continue to believe their own drinking has no influence on their children. Child psychologist John Irvine said children began at the age of two to mimic their parents’ activities, be it mopping the floor or holding a drink. “At that age they become aware of what the main people in their life do,” Dr Irvine told The Australian yesterday. “It is a survival mechanism. They can’t experience everything so they rely on cues from their parents to stay safe. “About 90per cent of what they learn from parents isn’t from being told, it’s from how they’re told or from the actions of the mum and dad.”
