A recent study on teenage smoking found nearly 4.5 million teenage smokers in the United States alone. And nearly six thousand children under the age of eighteen begin to smoke every day. Of those 6,000 children, 2,000 will grow up to become regular smokers. One survey found that nearly ninety percent of smokers start smoking within twenty-one years.
For some teens, smoking begins as an innocent experiment, for some it is their way of expressing rebellion, but as it develops into a lifelong habit, it is difficult to quit. It has been proven that teenagers who smoke regularly find it difficult to quit the habit. And the best way for kids to quit smoking is not to make them a habit in the first place.
Here are some tips to help your teens quit smoking:
I need to find the cause. There are many reasons why young people smoke. Some people do this to test how smoking is, some do it because of peer pressure, some do it in an attempt to feel cold or free, some they may want to join a certain group which may be surprising but some young people smoking is an attempt to lose weight or feel good about themselves. If you know and understand the reason behind it you can easily know how to deal with the problem.
I would just say “no”. Telling your child that smoking is not allowed may be more helpful than you think. According to a recent study, teenagers who think their parents don't like to hear about smoking are less than half as likely as teens who think their parents don't care.
l Be a good role model. Set a good example for yourself by convincing your children that smoking is not bad. Teenage smoking is more common in teens whose parents are addicted to smoking. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking in front of your children or leave your cigarettes where your children can find them.
Press the futile side of your puberty. Although the movies portray smoking as attractive and masculine, the truth is that it is not. Remind your teens that smoking is a stink and ***** habit - it will leave yellow stains on your teeth, stink and odor on your hair and clothes.
I do math. Smoking is an expensive vice. Show your teen how much it costs to smoke on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. Compare smoking costs with electronic gadgets, clothing, and other items needed for teens so they can use that money to buy other important things instead of buying cigarettes.
Explain cigarette addiction clearly. Many teenage smokers believe that they can quit whenever they like, but this is not always true. Teenagers can become as addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes as adults. A recent study shows that many teens who smoke at least a hundred cigarettes want to quit, but it's very difficult to do so.
Tell your kids what's in store. Tell your children about the long-term consequences of smoking - lung cancer, heart attack and ******. Not to mention chronic cough and other pulmonary tract concerns.
The best way to convince your children to quit smoking is not by making threats or ultimatums, but by showing them that you are concerned about their well-being. Be supportive of them, even if it seems difficult to quit in the long run, with perseverance and willpower, they will be able to quit the habit and lead a smoke-free and healthy lifestyle.
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