No Butts About It: Quiting Smoking |
Parents Do Have an Impact on Whether or Not Kids Smoke
In spite of the powerful and mixed messages our children receive from the Internet, media, and their peers, parents still have the biggest influence on whether or not our children smoke. Research has shown that parents do matter to young people, and that by offering supportive guidance, and talking to our kids about smoking at a very young age, parents and caregivers are in the best position to teach our children about the hazards of smoking.
The statistics on youth and smoking are alarming; most children tend to start smoking when they are around 12, and some begin to experiment with cigarettes as early as nine years of age; roughly 32% of all youth smoke - clearly this is a cause for concern.
So during a time when so many adults are trying to quit, why are so many children continuing to light up? Young people smoke for a variety of reasons, they may be feeling pressure from their peers, want to defy authority, or simply be curious; as well, some children believe that smoking will help them establish their own identity or make them more grown up. Whatever the reason, smoking is a risk taking behaviour and gateway drug that can lead to a series of other dangerous behaviours down the road.
There is no easy answer that can help parents prevent children from smoking, but depending on the needs of your child, there are several precautionary measures you can take to prevent it from happening. First of all, children who are exposed to smoking in their home by parents, siblings, and other relatives are at higher risk of smoking themselves, in part because they will model the behaviours they see around them, cigarettes are more accessible to them, and they become accustomed to cigarette smoke over time. If you are a smoker, Lynn Ann Duffley, Director of Public Issues and Communications for the Canadian Cancer Society says "the most influential action you can take to prevent your children from smoking is to quit. For those smokers who do not want to stop, you can eliminate smoking exposure and the effects of second hand smoke by not smoking around your children and limiting your smoking to outside."
Smoking has many serious long-term health effects, but for young people who only think of here and now - not the future, talking only about long-term consequences of smoking will have a minimal impact. While discussing the long term risks of smoking, be sure to stress the immediate short-term negative effects of smoking such as bad breath, smelly clothes, and yellow fingers. If your child has an interest in sports, talk about how smoking can cause shortness of breath and have an effect on athletic performance. And let your children know about any friends or relatives that have been sick or died as a result of smoking. Providing your child with details about smoking and their consequences will help your child think ahead about how to say no remember that you won't be there to stop them when they are offered a cigarette for the first time, so you want them to be well prepared.
Do make it clear that you do not want your child to smoke without lecturing, by practicing good communication and listening skills with your children from early on, you will keep the lines of communication open. Capitalize on opportunities to talk about smoking, for instance, if you see a famous actor or model smoking on a television program, use it as an opening to dispel any misconceptions or myths your children may have, such as smoking is a sign of maturity, or can help you lose weight. Be specific and honest, for example, if you smoked at one time, tell them why you started and the struggle it was to quit, your children will appreciate your honesty and openness. Remind your children that although it may seem that everybody smokes, the majority of young people do not help them recognize how few of their friends really do smoke.
A child with strong self-esteem is far more likely to deal with making tough choices under peer pressure and other influences. Often young people aren't sure how they feel about smoking because they don't have all of the facts. Get them to think about their feelings about smoking that will help them form an opinion of their own. When we encourage our children to talk about their feelings, we raise more self-confident and aware children who are in a better situation to say no without fear of losing friendships.
