Many teens who smoke hide it from their parents. Letting your teen know the dangers of smoking can help prevent her from starting or help her quit. Cigarettes contain many different components that cause them to be addictive and harmful to your teen's health. Smoking can cause lung cancer, breathing difficulties and oral cancer. According to KidsHealth website, 3,900 kids become smokers each day. They also say that 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking when they were teens. Telling your teen that they are not allowed to smoke and why can help prevent them from starting.
Step 1
Talk to your teen in a non judgmental way. If he feels like he is being judged for his actions or punished in some way, he may not be as receptive to what you have to say. Listen to his opinions and discuss any differences you encounter about smoking.
Step 2
Give your teen the facts about smoking. Tell her that smoking cigarettes can give her bad breath, smelly clothes and hair, causes wrinkles and a cough, makes it difficult to play sports, is expensive and can cause cancer. Knowing the consequences of smoking can often keep a teen from starting or help her decide to quit.
Step 3
Help your teen find a sport to participate in. Most sports are hard to play for smokers and many coaches won't allow a smoker on the team. If your teen wants to play sports, encourage this and help him find a team he can play on or encourage him to try out for his school's team. A good reason to refrain from or quit smoking is a powerful tool.
Step 4
Set a good example. Don't tell your teen she can't smoke and then do so yourself. If you do smoke, there are many programs that can help you quit so that you can model a good example for your teen.
Step 5
Have your child's doctor reinforce your message. Pediatricians often have access to resources that you don't and these can help your child understand the dangers of smoking. Often seeing pictures of what smoking can do to his lungs will be enough to deter him from picking up a cigarette.
Step 6
Discuss peer pressure. Help your teen develop techniques she can use to say no to friends who offer her a cigarette. This way she is prepared when the situation comes up. You can practice or role play together if she is agreeable.
Step 7
Talk about the topic more than once. Reinforce the dangers of smoking to your teen often so that he continues to understand how important it is to not smoke. As he makes new friends or encounters new situations, he may have additional questions or need more advice so revisit the topic as needed.
Tips and Warnings
- If your child already smokes, have her doctor assist you in finding a treatment that will help her quit. Getting angry and punishing your teen for smoking may not get you the results you need. If you stay calm and offer her help she may be more willing to give it a try.
