Talk To Your Kids About Smoking

Working in the public education system, specifically in middle school, can be an eye-opener. At the tender age of 11 or 12, it becomes quite clear they are more sophisticated than we were at that age. In addition, some are prone to engage in behavior we would have thought unheard of at that age. Yet, among other things, it’s a fact that some of these 6th graders smoke. While hard to fathom, the question facing parents is: “How to you talk to your kids about smoking?”

While it is recommended that parents discuss smoking with their kids at age five or six, it is nonetheless hard to broach the subject. Certainly, if you are a parent who smokes, it will be harder to convince a child that it is unwise and dangerous for them to do so. After all, to them it may seem harmless. Moreover, children tend to mimic parents at an early age. So what do you say to these children? How do you convince them the very thing you want them to avoid is a habit they constantly witness on a daily basis? It is quite a conundrum.

If you do smoke, the first thing you need to do is quit. If you do not engage in this habit, you can sit your children down and explain to them the dangers of smoking. But it goes beyond just telling them, doesn’t it? As they mature, they will be immersed in a culture where peer pressure and acceptance become the catalyst which may override your efforts to keep them safe and out of harm’s way.

So what do you say? That smoking can kill; that it’s very habit forming; that it doesn’t matter what their friends do or say to provoke them, they should say no and walk away; that smoking is not a hip thing to do. Will they understand what you are trying to convey? Perhaps the answer is in repeatedly pointing out the dangers of smoking; that it is not a popular thing to do; point out people who smoke and make reference to how they look and smell.

While you cannot shield your child from all potential bad habits they will come across in their young lives, you can offer positive reinforcement on a daily basis by not engaging in any activity they may mimic, and being consistent in your efforts to dissuade them by any means you can. Books, videos and other tools can be used to teach children the hazards of smoking and other harmful toxins. Teach them to say no to their friends or peers. Tell them by saying no they are exhibiting strength of character, and how proud you are they have acted so grown up.