Time Spent Together is Never Wasted

Did you know that kids who regularly share in family dinners are 50% less likely to use drugs and alcohol?

This awareness campaign is brought to you in partnership with Empower Tusc.

In comparison to their peers, adolescents who spend time around the family dinner table are reported to be half as likely to engage in drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use. Seems like a good excuse to extend that family bonding into an afternoon or weekend!

Family Fall Fun

This fall, plan some family activities together to bond with your teenager and strengthen your family’s relationships. Stuck on what to do or where to go? Try some of these autumn-y ideas!

• Explore an apple orchard and drink some warm apple cider
• Head to a family farm and pick out pumpkins for everyone to carve or decorate
• Sit around an outdoor fire pit and see who can tell the scariest (or funniest!) ghost story!
• Visit your local library and pick out a book you think someone in your family would love, then head home and make some hot chocolate before getting cozy on the couch to read together.
• Head to a local craft fair or fall festival to experience something new!
• Look up a new activity for the family- like a fishing tournament or Bigfoot hike!
• Go for a long walk in the woods and ask your teen if there’s anything they’d like to talk about with you that they’ve been too nervous to bring up.

Don’t be afraid to adventure out with your kids this fall. Time spent together is never wasted- in fact, it’s usually more beneficial than you know!

EmpowerTusc provides resources and assistance for families and individuals struggling with addiction. Visit their website at EmpowerTusc.com or give them a call at (330) 440-7319. You can also check out their list of local resources for those struggling with addiction, dependency, grief, anxiety/depression, and more.

Audrey Mattevi, Reporting