Whine for wine

I'm not a big drinker, but when i do drink, my eight-year-old son insists on having a few sips. Is this bad for him?

SHRINK RAP

Alcohol is, like many beverages, part of life. It is used for recreation, celebration and religious ceremonies. It can be a great source of pleasure and joy. It can also be the source of tremendous pain and destroy lives and relationships.

You want to teach your child how to have a healthy relationship with alcohol. If you withhold the alcohol, you will increase the sense of mystery and stir the child's curiosity and desire to try the alcohol. If you counter this by saying that it is bad or dangerous, the child will see your hypocrisy and dishonesty and lose trust in your guidance. If you allow the child to indulge freely you are creating an alcoholic. By allowing a few sips, you are demystifying alcohol but also creating an opportunity to teach moderation . - Leonard Carr

SUPERNANNY

Evidence shows alcohol is not safe for young children .

But the real question is why are you not able to say "no" to your son if you are uncomfortable with him drinking alcohol at such a young age? Are there other areas of your life in which you end up giving in to keep your son "happy"?

If this is a pattern you follow, then you might want to learn new skills so that when it is appropriate, you can be an assertive parent. This means sometimes we have to make unpopular decisions, like saying "no" to wine. We can offer safe alternatives. For example, when you have a glass of wine, offer your child a soft drink. - Stephanie Dawson-Cosser