| ltimate responsibility of parents is to provide a positive | | | | their world . When you have this communication |
| role model for our children. If they see us smoke than | | | | ongoing it is far easier to direct their thoughts away |
| we have no high ground from which we can advise | | | | from adolescent smoking by giving them strength of |
| them of the perils of smoking. If you are or were a | | | | character and the ability to say NO. |
| smoker and you practiced your bad habit infront of | | | | By opening and nurturing the lines of communication |
| your children, then they are really conditioned to take | | | | you will find that the rebellious nature of youth is set |
| up the habit even before peer group pressure invites | | | | aside as there is trust and understanding developed |
| them to join in. | | | | between you. Try not to talk down but rather talk to |
| The science is in, smoking can kill. | | | | your children with respect, they in turn will respect you. |
| Consequently it is with this thought that many parents | | | | In your communications you can bring up the harm of |
| wish their children not to acquire the bad habit of | | | | adolescent smoking. Children quickly pick up facts and |
| smoking since smoking is addictive, unfortunately many | | | | most are perceptive enough to understand how their |
| of our children are today caught up in adolescent | | | | bodies and consequently their futures will be affected |
| smoking without any hard knowledge of how harmful it | | | | if they take up adolescent smoking which inevitably |
| is to their overall health and to their future prospects. | | | | leads to becoming addicted to this poisonous drug. |
| Factors of Adolescent Smoking | | | | Parents naturally protect their children, however, it is |
| Many people would agree that Adolescent smoking is | | | | also good for them to face the hard cold facts. It really |
| often attributed to peer pressure and bad role models. | | | | is their choice and making them aware of the |
| These two are among the leading causes of | | | | consequences of adolescent smoking will help them in |
| adolescent smoking. | | | | their decisions making. |
| 1. Peer pressure can be difficult for young people to | | | | In many cases boredom leads to adolescent smoking, |
| handle. Unfortunately we cannot choose our children's | | | | encourage your children to get involved in sport or |
| friends and they often give in to adolescent smoking | | | | outdoor activities, not only will this increase their level of |
| just to fit in or to be noticed. | | | | fitness, it will develop self confidence and lead them |
| 2. Having bad role models to look up to. Like rock stars, | | | | away from adolescent smoking. Self confidence and a |
| movie stars, etc who have created their own stage | | | | positive mental attitude will steer them in the right |
| persona that is perceived to be cool is also a heavy | | | | direction and give them the strength to resist peer |
| influence on their behavior and the taking up of | | | | group pressure. |
| adolescence smoking. | | | | By discouraging adolescent smoking, your child's body |
| Doesn’t it all really come back to | | | | is able to fully develop thus ensuring a healthy lifestyle |
| communication, by communicating with your children, | | | | rather than one of poor physical development and |
| building up a friendship and trust encourages them to | | | | constant poor health. |
| communicate their feelings on what is happening in | | | | |