California

Day 1: Addiction, It's Not My Fault
Day 2: A Feelings Disease: It's Okay to Share My Feelings
Day 3: The Heart of Recovery: Taking Care of Me
Day 4: Changing the Family Legacy: Celebrating You and Me

Day 1: Addiction, It's Not My Fault

After creating a safe, supportive environment, children learn basic facts and information about the disease of alcoholism and other drug addiction. Through a variety of interactive games and play, they come to understand key concepts such as loss of control, addiction, relapse, treatment and recovery. Most importantly, children begin to realize that a loved one's addiction is not their fault.

Day 2: A Feelings Disease: It's Okay to Share My Feelings

Armed with accurate, age-appropriate information about addiction, youngsters begin to examine the impact this disease has upon them by talking about it and sharing feelings. Children deepen their skills in identifying and expressing their feelings in balanced ways and breaking the "no talk" rule so prevalent in addicted families. Through writing stories, doing artwork or composing letters to "Dear Addiction," children prepare to share with their parents on Day Three.

Day 3: The Heart of Recovery: Taking Care of Me

Children learn a variety of ways to take good care of themselves and stay safe. In a structured format with their parents, youngsters share art, stories or letters so they can express their feelings about how addiction has affected them. Children come to understand that it's okay to ask for help and there are safe people and places to go for help.

Day 4: Changing the Family Legacy: Celebrating You and Me

Children and parents participate together for the majority of the day. They share what they like and love about each other, make plans to take good care of themselves and ways the family can grow together. Both children and parents talk, trust and share feelings in a brand new way.