Smoking is a dangerous habit that leads to coronary heart disease. With all of the well-known health effects associated with smoking, it is easy to assume that smoking rates in children are on the decline. However, according to Kids Health, 3,900 children start habitually smoking every day in the United States. Children ultimately learn smoking habits and its dangers from their parents, not from other children.
Causes
Kids Health reports that 90 percent of all smokers picked up the habit during childhood. This statistic is astonishing if you perceive that all children know the dangers of smoking. Although peer pressure can play a role in childhood smoking, the causes of regular child smokers are attributed to other factors. Kids Health attributes childhood smoking to a lack of awareness of its dangers as well as the home environment. Some children also pick up smoking for appearance, including weight loss.
Risks
Smoking puts you at risk for diseases of the heart, lungs and other vital organs. According to the American Heart Association, smoking is linked to 80,000 deaths a year from coronary heart disease. Child smokers are most susceptible to such diseases later in life. The association points out that the longer you smoke, the more likely you will develop heart disease. This is especially the case if you continue to smoke beyond childhood.
Signs
The first sign of smoking in a child is the smell. You can smell tobacco smoke on your child's clothing, hair and breath. Kids Health reports that other signs of smoking in a child include coughing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, stained teeth and decreased athletic abilities. Your child may also get colds more often, as smoking makes the body more susceptible to contracting infections.
Prevention/Solution
The best way to prevent childhood smoking is to talk to your children beforehand and to make yourself present when needed. If you discover that your child is a smoker, your first impulse might be to lecture him, ground him and dispose of his cigarettes. However, Kids Health advises against parents being too stern, as this can fuel your child's desire to smoke even more. Calmly discuss the health implications of smoking with him and offer encouragement. Also point out other long-term dangers, such as impacts to your appearance as well as the financial aspect of smoking. Kids Health encourages a doctor visit so that your child can receive feedback from a third party who can possibly persuade him to quit.
Considerations
Children whose parents smoke are more likely to pick up the habit as well. The American Heart Association reports that 60 percent of young children reside with smokers. Since children look up to parents as role models, your smoking habits do not go unnoticed. If you do smoke, it is in your best interest as well as your child's to quit immediately. Kids Health suggests that you communicate honestly and openly about your smoking, and tell your children that it is a mistake.
