How To Prevent Adolescent Smoking?

The ultimate responsibility of parents is to provide a positive role model for our children. If they see us smoke than we have no high ground from which we can advise them of the perils of smoking. If you are or were a smoker and you practiced your bad habit infront of your children, then they are really conditioned to take up the habit even before peer group pressure invites them to join in.

The science is in, smoking can kill.

Consequently it is with this thought that many parents wish their children not to acquire the bad habit of smoking since smoking is addictive, unfortunately many of our children are today caught up in adolescent smoking without any hard knowledge of how harmful it is to their overall health and to their future prospects.

Factors of Adolescent Smoking

Many people would agree that Adolescent smoking is often attributed to peer pressure and bad role models. These two are among the leading causes of adolescent smoking.

1. Peer pressure can be difficult for young people to handle. Unfortunately we cannot choose our children's friends and they often give in to adolescent smoking just to fit in or to be noticed.

2. Having bad role models to look up to. Like rock stars, movie stars, etc who have created their own stage persona that is perceived to be cool is also a heavy influence on their behavior and the taking up of adolescence smoking.

Doesn’t it all really come back to communication, by communicating with your children, building up a friendship and trust encourages them to communicate their feelings on what is happening in their world . When you have this communication ongoing it is far easier to direct their thoughts away from adolescent smoking by giving them strength of character and the ability to say NO.

By opening and nurturing the lines of communication you will find that the rebellious nature of youth is set aside as there is trust and understanding developed between you. Try not to talk down but rather talk to your children with respect, they in turn will respect you.

In your communications you can bring up the harm of adolescent smoking. Children quickly pick up facts and most are perceptive enough to understand how their bodies and consequently their futures will be affected if they take up adolescent smoking which inevitably leads to becoming addicted to this poisonous drug.

Parents naturally protect their children, however, it is also good for them to face the hard cold facts. It really is their choice and making them aware of the consequences of adolescent smoking will help them in their decisions making.
In many cases boredom leads to adolescent smoking, encourage your children to get involved in sport or outdoor activities, not only will this increase their level of fitness, it will develop self confidence and lead them away from adolescent smoking. Self confidence and a positive mental attitude will steer them in the right direction and give them the strength to resist peer group pressure.

By discouraging adolescent smoking, your child's body is able to fully develop thus ensuring a healthy lifestyle rather than one of poor physical development and constant poor health.

Paul Courtney