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Helping your child quit smoking
If your child has already started smoking, the CDC offers these suggestions to help them kick the habit:
Try to avoid threats and ultimatums. Find out why your child is smoking. Your preteen or teen may want to be accepted by a peer group, or he or she might want your attention. Plus, adolescence can be stressful.
Show your interest in a non-threatening way. Ask a few questions and determine why your teen is smoking and what changes can be made in his or her life to help your child stop.
If you smoke, try to quit. If you did smoke and have already quit, talk to your child about your experience. Personalize the little problems around smoking and the big challenge of quitting. Teens and preteens often believe they can quit smoking whenever they want, but research shows many teens never do. Again, share those facts with them in a non-threatening way.
Be supportive. Both you and your teen need to prepare for the mood swings and crankiness that can come with nicotine withdrawal. Offer your teen the 5 Ds to get through the tough times:
* Delay: The craving will eventually go away.
* Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.
* Drink water: It will flush out the chemicals.
* Do something else: Find a new habit.
* Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.
Make a list with your teen or preteen of the reasons why they want to quit. Refer back to this list when your teen is tempted.
Finally, reward your teen when he or she quits. Plan something special for you to do together.
Helping your child quit smoking is one of the best parenting activities you could ever do.
About the author:
http://www.cancer.org
More health information - More smoking information
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