Children and Smoking

When it comes to smoking cigarettes, kids are influenced by what their friends do. During adolescence, kids assert their independence and explore their identity.   They still require the approval of their peers and worry about being rejected.   Research shows that parents are still the strongest influence on adolescents’ decisions, like whether to smoke. Peers and pop culture will also influence your child’s choice of clothing, hairstyles, and music. By sharing your experiences and a fact-based perspective on reality, your words do make a difference, even if it seems your kids are not paying attention.

What can you do as a parent?

•      Know your child’s friends. Make their friends feel welcome in your home when you are there. Interact with them. If one of your child’s friends smokes, tell your child you disapprove of the smoking. If you focus on the behavior, your child will be more likely to discuss the friend’s smoking and not be defensive.
•     See through their eyes. The most important thing is for your child to make its own decisions. Reassure your child that while friends will hassle them for not going along, many times they won’t. Make sure your child knows that the large majority of both kids and adults simply DO NOT smoke. 
•     Set boundaries. Your rules must be clear. Involve your child in setting some boundaries and rules, with YOU having the final say. Make sure your child knows the consequences for breaking rules and that the consequences will be enforced.
•    Encourage your child to form opinions and make decisions based on their own judgment. The more your child trusts their self and their ability to make independent decisions, the less vulnerable they will be to peer pressure.

What if your child smokes?

•     Stay calm. Ask questions.
•      Enforce the consequences of the rules that were set.
•      Remind your child of the negative effects of smoking, such as the expense, how it causes wrinkles, bad breath and diseases like cancer.
•     Discuss the signs of addiction, like having strong urges to smoke, feeling anxious or irritable when you are not smoking or having a problem quitting.
•   Smoking is a medial problem. Give your child resources to help them quit.