You can probably save your youngsters from a lifetime of addiction to cigarettes if you prevent them from becoming underage smokers. TeensHealth, a website of the Nemours Foundation, explains that 90 percent of smokers started the habit when they were still underage. Cigarettes are tempting to kids, but you can break the attraction through open discussion and setting a good example yourself.
Set an Example
Kids are more likely to smoke when their parents are cigarette smokers, according to MayoClinic.com. Quit smoking to reduce the chance of inadvertently influencing your youngster to smoke. Explain the reasons for your decision and the positive effects of quitting such as improved health and saved money. If you have never smoked, tell your kids why and let them know you hope they will follow your example. Share stories of how you resisted peer pressure and other influences so they can use the same strategies.
Emphasize the Negatives
Youngsters are very aware of their personal appearance as they reach their teen years. MayoClinic.com recommends using their concern as a smoking prevention tool. Point out all the ways that cigarettes make a person unattractive, such as bad breath, smelly clothes and yellowed fingers and teeth. Remind teens who enjoy sports that smoking hurts their competitive edge by reducing their endurance.
Role Playing
Many youngsters start smoking because their friends are already using cigarettes. They feel pressured to fit in and be "one of the group." MayoClinic.com advises talking to kids about ways to resist pressure in social situations. Generate ways to say "no" with your child and practice by role playing. Some youngsters are comfortable with bluntly saying, "No, I don't want to smoke," while others prefer having reasons ready such as "No, thanks, I don't want to hurt my track performance," or "I really don't like the smell."
Discussion
Discuss cigarettes openly with your youngsters. Ask them if they have ever been tempted to try a cigarette. Ask if their friends smoke and talk about the reasons kids start, such as looking "cool" or feeling older and more independent. Discuss the ways that tobacco companies and the media portray cigarettes positively. Explain the realities of smoking, such as health dangers and addiction, and tell the youngster about lesser-known effects. For example, the National Institutes of Health warns that teen smokers are more likely to have depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
