Keeping Kids Away From Cigarettes

According to KidsHealth.org, over 90 percent of adult smokers started to smoke as a kid, and over 4,400 kids are starting to smoke regularly each day in the U.S. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, and so it’s very important to get the message out to kids to prevent new smokers from starting.

Make sure your kids have the proper information and that they recognize how dangerous it is for them to even try smoking.

Addiction to tobacco can develop in just a few short days of trying it out, and can lead to devastating effects on the lungs, heart, stomach and nervous system.

Here are some tips from the experts at Kids Health on how to talk to your kids about avoiding tobacco:

• Talk to your kid about the dangers of using tobacco over time; even young children can understand these repercussions.
• Encourage your kids to get involved in sports and other activities that prohibit smoking.
• Emphasize what your child is doing right, instead of wrong. Building self-esteem is one of the best tools a child can have against peer pressure.
• Encourage them to walk away from kids who pressure them to smoke.

And if you think your child has already started smoking, here are tips to help you talk to them about it:

• Don’t lecture, scold or nag your child; ask what appeals to them about smoking and talk together about it openly.
• Talk to them about the health benefits of quitting now.
• Make sure to explain to them how their actions today will have an effect on their future as well.
• Enforce your rules at home against smoking. And if you smoke, admit your own mistake, and make the extra effort to try quitting yourself. Overcoming your own addiction will set a strong example for your kids.

Kids always notice any contradictions between what you say to them and your own behavior. So, setting a positive, smoke-free example can be a great influence on your kids. Check out the Kids Health site for more information about keeping your kids from developing a tobacco habit.