Most studies and research show that smoking can kill. This fearful knowledge makes responsible parents anxious that their children should not acquire this habit, which can lead to dangerous addiction. Many addicts begin their smoking as adolescents and the recent increase in adolescent smoking has been attributed to a number of factors.
Factors That Influence Adolescent Smoking
Most people agree that the two leading factors that influence dysfunctional teenage behavior, such as smoking and violence, are poor role models and peer pressure. Peer pressure can be extremely difficult for young people to handle because they are at the age where they have a deep need to fit in and to be noticed by people their age.
There are several ways for parents to guide children and one of these ways, free and open communication between parents and child, is a valuable tool to influence children to avoid smoking. Confidence grows stronger when children feel comfortable opening up freely to their parents.
The style of communication is also very important. It should be one of mutual respect, rather than the parents talking down to their children, making them feel inferior. Parents need to make a conscious effort to resist talking down to their children. By doing so, they can avoid provoking their children to rebel. This tendency towards rebellion can become quite strong during the teenage years.
Parents ought to discuss with and explain to their adolescent children about smoking and make sure that they know the facts, as well as the dangerous hazards and destructive effects that smoking has on the human body.
Although this awareness may seem unpleasant and parents may want to shield their children from unpleasantness, it is in their children’s best interest in order for them to be able to make informed choices regarding either smoking and sickness, or not smoking and health.
Sports and other outdoor activities promote health and strength and can do so much to divert the adolescents’ minds from smoking, as can fun activities with their families and close friends. These things leave little time for experimenting with smoking, and together with confidence-building support can help prevent the adolescent become vulnerable to peer pressure.
Growing children, adolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible to sicknesses and impeded physical and mental development caused by smoking, and parents need to take an active role in strongly discouraging their children from engaging in adolescent smoking.
No comments:
Post a Comment