Teenage Smoking

Teenage Smoking - A Parent’s Nightmare

Teenage smoking, liquor or beer drinking and adolescent pregnancy are the major fears of a parent. From the time the child reaches adolescence, parents become fidgety and constantly check on them, inspecting their bags, and rummaging through their closets and drawers. The worst fears are to find condoms, contraceptives, cigarettes, marijuana, love letters, receipts for purchases of such items and motel receipts.

As a parent, you do this because you know teenagers and what they are capable of, having been one sometime in your life. Some call it “raging hormones,” others call it “self expression” while others justify it as a “rite of passage”. But for you as the parent, it’s a nightmare, a living hell.

Learn To Accept That Teenage Smoking Is A Reality

Teenage smoking is the most common and widely participated activity, perhaps because of its accessibility. Since it is the most accessible, it has become the first initiation into proclaiming oneself as “no longer a kid!” Hence, teenage smoking is what separates the kids from the young adults.

Hounded by the thought of “not belonging” and subjected to ridicule of being “just a kid” plus the force exerted by peer pressure, a young teenager has nowhere to go but to ride with the tide. In his limited understanding, the teenager would not see that there are other venues to belong to a group but what is directly before him. The only thing in his mind is to find the easiest escape which would be to just follow what other kids are doing.

Being a parent, one should understand it from the teenager’s point of view. By doing so, the parent will come to accept that teenage smoking is a reality. With this acceptance, the parent can look at the issue objectively. There will be less friction and nagging in the household. The parent can now make plans using a more positive approach on how to deal with the issue of teenage smoking.

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Tips On How To Deal With Your Teenage Smoking Offspring

Now that it is clear that teenage smoking is an issue that you and your child should confront and overcome together, these few tips on how to quit smoking will help you both:

• Before you talk to your child, do some reading on the subject. Remember that knowledge is your best weapon, it will empower you. Also read up on child psychology so that you will know what approach to use on your child. This will also teach you to notice changes in mood, and responses as you talk to him. Thus you will be able to react accordingly.

• Before bringing up the topic on smoking, consider doing certain activities to expose your child to the effects of smoking. This can range from reading together, to attending seminars, and even scheduling meetings with those suffering from the effects of indulging in teenage smoking. These activities will indirectly impress on him that smoking will lead to a lifelong habit that his body will pay for in the future.

• When talking to your child, you should both be in one accord. You must impress on him that you know and understand what he is going through. It must be clear to him that you are not his enemy, but instead you are his ally in this battle. Being in the same team you should ensure that you stand for the same thing, which is not to succumb to smoking.

• Being allies you should develop open and honest communications. This would enable you to thresh out other issues arising from smoking. Having open communications would also help the two of you plan your attack and defence. An example is thinking of excuses which your child can tell his peers when asked to indulge in teenage smoking.

• If you find out that your child is already participating in teenage smoking, help him overcome it by engaging him in other types of positive activities.

There may be occasions when you may feel disappointed that you are not the best person to handle the teenage smoking habits which your child has. In times like this, you should reach out and seek external help to help your child to quit smoking. Remember that there are people, groups, associations and institutions that are ready and willing to help and mediate.