"My daughter has just touched 14 and she is beginning to get attracted to smoking," says Rachel with a cigarette on her lips and a cup of coffee in her hand.
The reply follows, "Oh these teenagers! I fail to understand them. It is the same story with my son. I told him to stop it, but where do they listen! Only their peer opinion matters to them."
No, this does not work; you need to know your teen better than that.
Parents' involvement is crucial
Teenagers are kids in adult stature. Don't give up on them. Your involvement is crucial in preventing them from being attracted to smoking.
Children in their teens do need their own space, but they need you too. They love you, value your opinion and strive to meet your expectations.
Allow them individuality, but remain closely involved: Not to pry on their privacy, but as a dear friend and a caring solicitor.
You are the parent
Use patience and understanding more than your overgrown kid can. Silently swallow their initial disapproval. By and by you will notice them treading the path laid by you.
At this juncture, please refrain from airing your own vanity as to how right you were and how immature they are. It will reverse the teens' attitude.
Be the role model
Even if you yourself are a smoker, there is a way out. Talk to your child openly. Accept that tobacco is addictive. In spite of being a victim of its ill effects, you are unable to quit smoking.
Smoking exhibits weakness of character, and you would want your child to follow only your strengths.
Spend time together
Conversations at the dining table open a window to your teen's world. Most certainly it is you, the parent, who needs to learn the ways of the new generation.
Don't pull children back into the old times. Explore their exciting new world. Be friends to their friends and socialize with them; not as a guardian but as a friend. You will be amazed at the welcome you receive. They will happily imbibe your wisdom under the cover of your comradeship.
Wow! You have influenced the peer opinion. Your teen sees you in new light now: respected and loved by the peer. You have won the confidence, admiration and respect of your young brat.
Tackle the root cause of teens being attracted to smoking
During teenage, children see themselves as adults but fail to meet the adults' expectations. Their emotional upheaval jeopardizes their social image and scholastic achievements. Anxiety and depression grip them and they succumb to various vices.
Parents' and teachers' thoughtful considerations can go a long way to help teenagers through the turmoil of teens:
Believe in your teenagers and let them know that you trust them.Appreciate each of their achievements, however small it may be.Offer only constructive guidance and not diktats.Sweeping criticisms: No. Absolutely Not!Always be there for your children: Give your time, mind and support.Make the home a happy place to come to: Parents relationship makes an impact on teens' psyche.Eat dinners at home together with your children: Open conversations at the dinning table help resolve children's day-to-day conflicts.Entrust your teenagers with responsibilities.Set goals for them and help them come out winners.Encourage them to participate in outdoor games.Strive with them to meet their scholastic aspirations.Allow them to indulge in reading for pure pleasure.Help them resolve their peer conflicts.Equip them such that they are able to evaluate media and peer's recommendations with knowledge.
"Smoking is cool and mod" is a myth created by the tobacco industry
Let children know that tobacco smoking is and has always been nothing but a vice. It is neither cool nor modern.
Once attracted to smoking, you are hooked to it for life. The harmful chemicals of tobacco keep corroding the body slowly but surely.
Hopefully, on knowing this teenagers will retreat from being attracted to smoking.
Life is beyond teenage
Educate children on harmful effects of tobacco. Support your views with scientific data and give them time to ponder.
Besides many diseases commonly associated with tobacco consumption, "smoking is also linked to impotence, decreased sperm count, sperm abnormalities and poor outcomes of pregnancy." [For more details on this please see the reference given below]
Teenagers couldn't be attracted to smoking in preference to love life!
Reference:
Canadian Institute on Child Health. Environmental hazards: protecting children. Canadian Institute of Child Health, Ottawa, 1997.
Hey, I am Ren Chats, an experienced paediatrician. Solving child health related perplexities is my passion. Teenage depression is often overlooked childhealth-explanation.com/teenage-depression.html. Understand teenagers - childhealth-explanation.com/teenagers.html. Subscribe for free monthly "Child Health Chat" from any of the above links. Providing quality quit smoking writings, articles and reviews online.
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