Tooled Up Education

A Quick Guide to Festivals (and Relevant Tooled Up Resources)

A music festival is about so much more than the headline act. It’s an immersive event that feels a million miles away from everyday life – and for parents, a daunting prospect if their teenager announces it as their next big plan! This quick guide, developed in conjunction with drugs education charity the DSM Foundation, covers the most important things that parents and carers need to know about festivals, as well as signposting to further sources of information. Please note that legal information and some of the services referenced are applicable to the UK and rules for other countries may differ.

A Quick Guide to Alcohol in Social Contexts (and Relevant Tooled Up Resources)

Teenage parties can be a difficult prospect for parents and carers. As children get older, pass the parcel and musical statues often give way to film nights and sleepovers, and the refreshments move on too, with many teens asking whether alcohol can be provided. This quick guide, developed in conjunction with drugs education charity the DSM Foundation, covers the most important things that parents and carers need to know about alcohol within the context of social situations, as well as signposting to further sources of information. Please note that the information in this Quick Guide refers to UK guidance and law, and may be different in other locations. However, advice on how to talk to young people is equally applicable wherever you live.

A Quick Guide to Alcohol (and Relevant Tooled Up Resources)

Alcohol is so much part of UK culture that most people don’t regard it as a drug. But given that the widely accepted definition of a drug is “a substance that has a physiological effect when introduced to the body”, alcohol most definitely is, and an incredibly common one at that. This quick guide, developed in conjunction with drugs education charity the DSM Foundation, covers the most important things that parents and carers need to know about alcohol, as well as signposting to further sources of information. Please note that the information in this Quick Guide refers to UK guidance and law, and may be different in other locations. However, advice on how to talk to young people is equally applicable wherever you live.

Coping with a Parent’s Alcoholism: Worksheet for Primary-Age Children

This resource is designed to help adults engage younger children in supportive conversations about a parent’s alcoholism. We invite children to gently open up about worries they may have, give them confidence to ask questions and demonstrate that there are people in their lives who are prepared to help answer those questions. This resources also features a question and answer section written for adults to use, with guideline responses suggested by NACOA (National Association for the Children of Alcoholics).

Teen Party Planning and Problem Parties: A Lawyer’s Perspective

In this webinar, Dr Weston and experienced criminal defence lawyer, Harriett Mather, (herself a mum of three teens) discuss teen parties.
Post-pandemic, parties are understandably back in fashion, but it is essential that parents understand how to plan for them effectively and safely. Harriett understands all too well what can go wrong at parties and shares her top tips, so that teens and parents can enjoy festivities without fear of regret, harm or… liability!

Dr Weston Talks with Dr Melissa Oldham: Teenage Drinking

In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Melissa Oldham about trends in youth drinking. They discuss whether research shows that giving underage teens alcohol at home is a good idea, examine how to have positive conversations with teens about alcohol and consider the importance of what parents model, when it comes to drinking. They also touch on school resources around alcohol consumption.