For years you have been able to walk around any large city and find a coffee shop on every corner. Now, even rural communities are starting to see coffee shops popping up. Many of these shops offer leather sofas, large screen televisions, free wi-fi, and sometimes even live music. With an atmosphere like that it’s no wonder that more and more teenagers are being seen hanging out in coffee shops.My pre-teen already hangs out at the local coffee shop after-school once a month but, has always ordered fruit smoothies. After realizing that sooner or later she was going to want to move onto coffee I started doing some research on my own to decide if coffee was safe for teens and pre-teens to drink.
I searched a lot of websites and I found out that coffee in moderation, like most other things, can be safe for teens and pre-teens. The one thing that was constant across all the websites I used to do my research was the chance of anyone, adult or teen, becoming addicted to coffee. Coffee is one step up from soda but still not as dangerous as energy drinks or alcohol. Still, any addiction is hard to break. So, I realized that I needed to come up with a plan that would protect my child from becoming addicted to coffee.
I feel coffee shops for the most part offer a safe place for teens to hang out and socialize. They also offer a lot of options, so it is possible to let your teen or pre-teen hang out without sipping on coffee. As like anything else that you let your children do; you need to set limits and boundaries. Coffee consumption while socializing once or twice a week will not lead your child to a severe caffeine addiction or cause Type 2 Diabetes. However, you should avoid allowing a cup of coffee every morning and always make sure your teen is getting adequate sleep each night. If a teen is well rested they will be less likely to feel the need to grab a caffeine-filled drink to keep them going. Therefore, reducing the chance that your teen will become addicted to coffee.
As parents we also have a responsibility to set a good example. I don’t drink coffee because I just don’t like it. If you have an addiction to caffeine now is the time to start monitoring your intake. If your teen sees you “needing” coffee to function you are sending the message that they too will need coffee. If you drink a lot of water and keep healthier drink options in your fridge and at your dinner table, chances are your teen will follow your lead. I drink a lot of water and so do both my children. My kids learn more from watching me do things then they will ever learn from my verbal teaching.
One thing is for sure sooner or later as a parent you will find yourself having to make a decision on whether you will allow your teen to drink coffee or not. As for me, I am ready to allow my child to try coffee and we will talk about it and discuss the pros and cons of consuming this and other caffeine-filled beverages. I feel open communication between parents and teens is vital in helping your teen make good decisions. Although, the decision to drink coffee doesn’t pose the same dangers as underage drinking or unprotected sex, it still deserves a thoughtful conversation. One we will be having at our house in the near future.