Even though infants and toddlers are not yet ready to learn complex facts about alcohol and other drugs, there are still several things you can do at this age to help prevent the likelihood of your child drinking, smoking, or using drugs later on.

At this age, the focus is on creating a healthy beginning and fostering positive social, emotional, and moral development that will extend through your child’s lifespan. According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, effective prevention focuses on intervening early in a child’s development before problems develop.

There are many factors that contribute to an individual’s risk for substance abuse. For example, a lack of self-control or lack of attachment with at least one adult may make one more susceptible to alcohol and drug use later. On the other hand, there are many protective factors that reduce the risk of substance abuse in the later years. These include a strong parent-child bond, clear expectations, limits and consistent discipline, an authoritative parenting style (Find out what your parenting style is!), parent involvement, trusting support systems, effective communication between parent and child, and so forth.

Keys to prevention at this age: Building a strong parent-child bond and role modeling healthy behaviors at home; creating a sense of safety and security for your child.

Starting to recognize relationships between objects

• At about 2 years of age, a toddler’s learning process is becoming more thoughtful, where s/he is starting to understand relationships between objects (e.g., matching similar shapes, begins to recognize some purpose in numbers by counting objects, and develops an early understanding of cause and effect (e.g., turning a light switch on and off).

Concrete thinking and confusion between fantasy and reality

• Reasoning at this age is concrete or literal (i.e., viewing everything in simple terms) and rather limited. Toddlers often confuse fantasy with reality unless s/he is actively engaged in “make-believeâ€? play. A toddler may interpret comments such as, “If you keep eating candy, your teeth are gonna fall outâ€? as a real possibility.

Thinking in logical sequences

• Your child is now moving toward more logical sequences in their activity. Rather than random switching between activities or toys, you’ll notice your child demonstrating step-by-step operations (e.g., lining up cars or trucks, or lining up dolls and feeding them one after the other).

They are the center

• Your child may feel that everything that happens in their world is a result of something they’ve done. Consequently, it is very difficult for your child to understand major life changes like illness or death of a loved one or pet, divorce, etc. without feeling like they are somehow responsible. As a result, toddlers need clarification and reassurance that they have no control over these events and they in no way influenced them.
• Children at this age are very egocentric and are concerned only with fulfilling their wants and needs. They may not play or share easily with other children, and believe that everyone thinks and feels the same way they do. Reasoning with your child at this age is not likely to be effective so don’t expect them to understand attempts to shape their behavior (e.g., “How would you feel if someone did that you?â€?).

Imitation

• Much of a toddler’s social development is spent imitating the mannerisms, actions, and activities around them and engaging in pretend play. Emotionally, there are several changes taking place and your child is in the early stages of learning how to take control of feelings, impulses, and actions. They often experience and express a broad range of emotions from happiness to rage moving from enjoyable play to a temper tantrum.

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Source: Development: All about infants/toddlers� American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), www.Healthychildren.org.