How to Talk With Your Kids About Smoking

Kids and teens are drawn to smoking and chewing tobacco for a variety of reasons - to look cool, be accepted by peers, act older, lose weight, win cool merchandise, seem tough, or feel independent. Parents can prepare by learning about the dangers of smoking, but to be most effective parents must make a committment to their own health. Kids are quick to observe any contradiction between what their parents say and what they do. While thick skin and a sense of humor are requirements for any parent survival kit, assessing your own spoken and unspoken messages about smoking can greatly impact the direction your child or teen takes.

Preventing Tobacco Use

• Keep talking. Make sure your kids know smoking is not acceptable. When it comes to the dangers of tobacco use, it's never too early or too late to take advantage of a teachable moment.
• Listen carefully. Discuss all sensitive topics in a non-punitive and non-judgemental manner.
• Emphasize what your child does right. Self-confidence is your child's best protection against peer pressure.
• Encourage positive activities that discourage smoking such as sports, clubs or the arts.
• Practice standing firm. Help them practice what to say to someone that wants them to smoke and to find peers that support their decisions.

If Your Child or Teen is Smoking

• Understand the attraction. Ask how they feel about smoking and which friends smoke. Applaud your teen's good choices, and talk about the consequences of bad choices.
• Say no to teen smoking. You may feel they don't hear a word you say, but say it anyway.
• Appeal to your teen's vanity. Remind your teen that smoking is a dirty, smelly habit. It gives you bad breath, makes your clothes and hair smell, and turns your teeth yellow.
• Take addiction seriously. Most teens believe they can quit smoking anytime they want, but teens become just as addicted to nicotine as adults, often faster and at relatively low doses of nicotine.
• Avoid threats and ultimatums. Instead, be supportive. Find out why your teen is smoking - and then discuss ways to help your teen stop.

If you smoke

• For your health and the future of your family, quit. It's not simple but your child will be encouraged to see you quit. The Great American Smoke-Out is this Nov. 15th. Thousands of people choose that day to stop smoking. You can too.
• Admit that starting to smoke was a mistake and why.
• If you did smoke and have already quit, talk to your child about your experience. Personalize the problems around smoking and the challenge of quitting.

If you or someone you care about need help to quit smoking, go to www.nj.quitnet.com, or call 1-866-NJ-STOPS.