Although it may feel awkward to talk to your kids about sensitive things like drugs, death and sex, it’s best that they get their information from you. When kids learn these things from their friends, they’re often misinformed. Misinformation can lead to poor decision-making.

So, talk to your kids about sensitive things. Use the method that feels most comfortable to you, and the talk is likely to go more smoothly.

Here are five methods you can use to about sensitive topics with your kids.

Problem-solving method

As you approach certain topics, like drugs and alcohol, it’s tempting to want to lecture. With the “working together” method, you’ll approach things a bit differently. Look at the topic as the problem, and you and your child will work together to find a solution.

You can start by proposing some potential solutions and asking your child what he or she thinks. Ask for other solutions or whether your child thinks yours could work. If your child is older and struggling with substances, an adolescent rehab center might be one solution you could bring to their attention.

When you work together on something, your child will be engaged and more likely to follow the plan you create together.

Heart-to-heart method

With the heart-to-heart technique, you’ll designate a time when you and your child can be alone to talk about the sensitive topic. This way, your child won’t have to worry about other people hearing what they have to say; everything remains private between you both.

Open conversation

While approaching a sensitive topic like death, you may want to keep an open dialogue throughout the day. Death is a huge concept for children to grasp, and depending on their age, it may take many conversations throughout the years. Talking about things throughout the day can also “normalize” the topic, so your child should always feel comfortable bringing it up.

Listen before you talk

Sometimes, we have so much to say that we don’t truly listen to our children. With this method, you’ll let your child lead the conversation. Just let him or her know what you’d like to discuss. If you’re having trouble getting the talk started, pose a question that may get your child talking.

It can be helpful to hear what your child has to say on the topic before you say a thing. Once you know his or her thoughts, you can build on what your child is telling you. As you’re talking, watch your child’s body language. If he or she is getting uncomfortable, it may be time for you to pause and listen again.

Be sure to make eye contact and let your child know that you’re listening by repeating the important things they say.

Informational

One of the reasons you want to talk to your kids about these sensitive topics is that you have information to share.

With this approach, you’ll focus on sharing facts and stats with your child about a sensitive topic. This method works very well when talking about drugs and alcohol.

You may find interesting information about how study drugs damage the body or how alcohol affects brain chemistry. These are things their friends won’t tell them.

As your kids get older, keep talking to them about drugs and sharing age-appropriate information. When they are teens, it may be a good time to talk to them about spotting the signs of addiction in their friends. Let them know that they can always talk to you about anything. Aside from talking to an adult, they can access a rehab directory, find support groups and talk to counselors for help.

These techniques can be mixed and matched to find the perfect method for your conversation. And remember that having the talk is most important. In the end, it’s better to have a conversation that feels a bit awkward than to have no conversation at all.