Parents have a great influence on their teen when it comes to smoking.
Parents have a greater influence on their child's tobacco use than they believe. Studies indicate that parents who discuss the dangers of smoking with their kids significantly reduce the likelihood that their kids will start smoking, even if the parent giving the talk smokes. Less powerful influences include movies, music and television. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2007, 20 percent of high school students smoked cigarettes. Parental discussion can have a positive impact on keeping children and teens smoke-free.
Instructions
1. Begin talking with your children as young as age five or six about tobacco use and the dangers of smoking, as this can plant the seed for a lifetime of abstinence.
2. Explain the risks of smoking in more detail as children mature. If someone the child knows suffers with or has died from a tobacco-related disease, be open about it. Tell the child the damage that smoking causes, including cancer and heart and lung-related issues. Elaborate on the effect smoking has on personal appearance, including the overall smell, bad breath, dental issues and teeth and fingernail stains (References 4)
3. Use role-playing to act out possible scenarios involving peer pressure and smoking. Many adolescents often tried their first cigarette at age 11 or 12 and were addicted by age 14. Know who your child's friends are, talk about peer pressure and provide suggestions for saying "no."
4. Talk to your children about your personal experiences if you have smoked in the past or even if you still smoke. Your words matter. Tell the story of how you started smoking and what you thought at the time. Explain that you want to quit and how hard it is. Tell your child what it has cost you -- health-wise, financially and socially. Keeping your home smoke-free helps discourage your teen from smoking as well.
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