Ask the Experts: April 2026

Each month in TulsaKids Magazine, local experts answer frequently asked questions from their area of expertise.

How can parents support a child who is struggling with addiction?

When a child is struggling with addiction, parents often feel fear, guilt, anger and helplessness. Those feelings are understandable—but your presence and response still matter deeply. Start by keeping communication open. Calm, non-judgmental conversations help your child feel safe enough to be honest. Listen more than you speak and avoid lecturing or threatening. Addiction thrives in secrecy; connection helps weaken its hold.

Love also means setting clear, consistent boundaries. For youth—whose brains are still developing—structure and predictability provide safety. Encourage healthy routines, positive peer connections, and activities that offer purpose and self-worth beyond substances.

Most importantly, it’s crucial to remember that addiction is a medical and mental health condition, not a failure of parenting or willpower. Professional help is essential. Youth-focused addiction recovery services can offer assessments, individual and family therapy, and ongoing recovery planning that addresses both substance use and underlying issues such as anxiety, trauma or depression. At GRAND Mental Health, we believe early intervention can dramatically change a young person’s path.

Finally, consider the broader family picture. If a parent or loved one is also struggling with addiction, seeking help models honesty and courage. Recovery is possible—for your child, for you and for your family—and no one has to face it alone.

Grand Mental Health

844.458.2100
24/7 Crisis Line: 800×722.3611
grandmh.com

How can parents help prevent cavities at home—especially with picky eaters or kids who resist brushing?

Consistency is key. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, limit frequent snacking and encourage water between meals. For picky eaters, focus on reducing sticky or sugary snacks and drinks.

Make brushing fun! Use a timer, music or let kids choose their toothbrush. Parents should help or supervise brushing until around age 7–8, when children have the coordination to do it well on their own.

Dental Depot
7 locations across the Tulsa area
dentaldepot.net

I want to start a family conversation about water safety and drowning, but it’s such a scary topic! Where do I begin?

Statistics tell us that drowning is still the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years of age. This means we have to make pool and water safety a key point of focus in conversations with our kids.

Here are a few tips to get the conversation started:

– Be truthful about danger: Be honest, but age-appropriate. Share facts rather than emotionally charged stories. Let them know how quickly drowning can happen, and that even if they’re a strong swimmer, they could still slip near a pool and be in danger.

– Discuss family rules: Keep your rules short and memorable. Talk about them prior to any event near water. It can be easy for children to get caught up in fun and forget safety guidelines, so talk about them often.

– Enroll in swim class: An important line of defense for your children is having the ability to swim on their own. If your kids are not already enrolled in swim class, there’s no better time than the present to get them started.

Miller Swim School
4 Locations in Tulsa, South Tulsa, Jenks and Owasso
918.254.1988c
millerswimschool.com

Does Oklahoma have grandparents’ rights?

This is a question that comes up a lot. In short, there are no automatic rights. The Courts may award grandparents visitation with their grandchildren under specific circumstances. Generally, it would need to include mom/dad are not together, a consistent pattern of visits to continue, and the all-important determination that it is in the children’s best interests. If a child is old enough, then their opinion would be considered, too.

This would be in an existing custody or divorce case, where the grandparents would be another party to the action. It would be visitation only and would not include any legal custody rights or the ability to overrule the parents on decisions. Other methods that lead to grandparents having rights include juvenile deprived cases, guardianships and adoptions…all with their own quirks and rules. While not a legal consideration, anyone considering this should think about the impact it would have on relationships in the family before legal action is taken.

Simon Harwood, Fry & Elder
1630 S. Main St., Tulsa
918.585.1107
simonharwoodlaw.com