CHANGING LIVES IS A
WALK IN THE PARK.
Getting parents to set clear rules and remind their kids about the dangers of underage drinking is a continuing challenge in Utah. Many studies and youth self-reported data show that more parental influence is the key to curtailing early drinking. Underage alcohol consumption can harm developing brains and often lead to future addiction and substance use disorders.
Our work for Parents Empowered focuses on ways to facilitate natural interactions between children and parents. We knew this couldn’t be created through advertising alone. Instead, we looked for a frictionless, family-friendly environment that would make these conversations effortless and meaningful.
To that end, we partnered with Lagoon, an amusement park in Farmington, Utah. We created an interactive game that parents and children could play, where they discovered and unlocked messages throughout the park. The messages were designed to prompt discussions about the dangers of alcohol. Once they unlocked all of them, they could redeem a prize at the end of the day.
Parents who connect and communicate with their kids can lead to less underage drinking. At Lagoon, families are already bonding and connecting over a positive experience. Adding Parents Empowered to the mix is a recipe that will change lives for the better.
For more on how R&R uses nontraditional solutions to tackle tough public health challenges, explore our Crushing Addiction case study.
