Most adult smokers began smoking when they were teenagers, according to MayoClinic.com. Now, as adults, they may be saddled with any number of health problems, such as emphysema or cancer. Several ways are available for you to prevent your teen from lighting up and to help her quit if she's already started.
Start Early
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, or NICHD, many kids begin to experiment with smoking in early adolescence; so don't wait until your child is in high school to talk to him about the dangers of smoking. Around sixth grade, kids start to assert their independence, but parental influence is usually still stronger than peer influence at this time.
Be Involved
The more teens' parents are involved in their lives, the less likely they are to smoke, even if their friends smoke, according to a 2002 study by NICHD. Talk to your child daily about what she's doing at school, who her friends are and what her concerns are. This study also showed that teens whose parents monitored their behavior were less likely to start smoking.
Communicate
Once teens start smoking, threats, commands and ultimatums don't usually work to make them stop, according to MayoClinic.com. Instead, parents should try asking kids why they started smoking in the first place, listening to their response and being supportive. Many teens light up because they think it will help them fit in, lose weight or relieve stress, so help them find other ways to achieve these desires.
Set Boundaries
Teens whose parents set the firmest smoking restrictions usually don't choose to light up. Be sure that your child knows that smoking is not allowed, and establish clear consequences for breaking the rules. If your teen already smokes, let him know how disappointed you are with his choice and enforce consequences until he quits.
Discuss Immediate Effects
Since long-term consequences of smoking, such as cancer, heart attack and stroke, probably aren't on your teen's radar yet, teach your teen about more immediate effects that smoking has on the body and appearance. As noted by MayoClinic.com, smoking causes bad breath, makes your clothes and hair smell, turns your nails and teeth yellow, makes your skin look pale, brings on premature wrinkles, gives you a nasty cough and phlegm, and zaps your energy -- making sports and other activities harder.
Set a Good Example
Teen smoking is more common among teens whose parents smoke. If you smoke, don't expect your teenager to avoid smoking or stop smoking. Ask your doctor about stop-smoking programs and products to help you quit. Obviously, don't leave cigarettes where your teen can find them. Be vocal about your reasons for quitting and involve your teen in the process. Likewise, if your friends or other relatives smoke, ask them to refrain when your kids are around.
Compare Costs
Show your teen just how expensive smoking is by calculating the weekly cost of his habit and how much of a chunk it would take out of his allowance or wages. Compare this with the cost of electronics, clothes or whatever else he likes to buy.
