As parents we know how difficult it is to encourage positive behaviors in our children. Encouraging our children to make the right decisions about tobacco and helping them understand the consequences of using tobacco is very important. Approximately 3000 kids in the U.S. become regular smokers every day. The most common reasons are peer pressure, wanting to look grown-up, and the lack of positive parental involvement. Giving teens the confidence to walk away from a bad situation will help to build their self-esteem and keep them from being pressured into making a bad decision.
Many teens begin smoking to look older and more mature.
Talk with your teen and discuss the long-term risks of smoking and how smoking will affect their life. Explain that starting smoking is easy, but quitting is very difficult. Help your teen weigh the risks of smoking against what they consider the benefits. In fact, they look like they are just trying to look grown-up. Take an active role in your teen s life.