If you want your teenager to quit smoking, then follow this positive approach from becoming a role model till celebrating success. Teen smoking is complex, as they might turn into adult smokers. In case you find your teenager smoking, then take serious steps to stop their smoking that can direct them to a good healthy lifetime.
Become a Role Model
By becoming a role model you can help your children quit smoking. Parents are one of the most powerful influences in the life of a teen; your actions have more effect on them rather than your words. People who smoke cannot expect their teenager to quit smoking. You can ask your doctor about the products that can be useful to stop smoking.
During your approach avoid smoking at home or in the car in front of your kids, and do not leave the packs where they can find it. You can explain them that why you are unhappy about smoking and the reason to quit it.
Communication is the Key
Connecting with the teenagers and proper communication with them can help teenagers put an end to smoking. You can tell your child to quit smoking. It is an essential message for them. But threats, commands and ultimatum would not work. You should be supportive and curious rather than getting angry. Ask him/her what made them start smoking. Your teen might find it as a method to relieve stress or trying to fit in the school. Sometimes teen smoking is a method to feel cool in the school or in a group of friends.
Once you figure out the reason you can understand their dilemma, then you can start to talk about it, which would make your teen stop smoking eventually over a period of time.
Ask your Teenager to Share their Worries
Sharing their worries can change your perspective and you can help them quit smoking using a better approach.Even though the consequences of smoking like heart attack, cancer and stroke are real, but they are out of the concern to your teen. Ask your teen about the negative effect of smoking rather than lecturing them about the major consequence. Ask them to prepare their own list of negative effects. You should consider to the appeal of your teen’s pride:
- Smoking reduces your stamina and energy for sports and other activities.
- Smoking results in bad breath
- Smoking makes your hair and cloth smell bad
- Wrinkles are caused by smoking
- Smoking can lead to hacking cough
- Smoking turns fingernails and teeth yellow
- Smoking is expensive.
Help your kid to calculate the expense of smoking weekly, monthly and yearly. You can compare the cost of smoking with clothes, electronic devices or other items that are important for your teen.
Assist your Teenager in Creating a Quitting Plan
By helping teenagers create a plan of execution and also helping them throughout the execution, you will help your teenager quit smoking for good. Teenagers get addicted to nicotine quickly just within a few weeks of smoking. When you are talking to your teenager to quit smoking, ask him or her if they have tried it earlier. Give them some suggestions.
- Ask your teenager to mention things for which he or she wants to quit smoking. It will help as well as motivate them in their attempt.
- Set a date. Ask your kid to select a date to quit smoking. You should avoid stopping date during stressful situations such as exams.
- Roam around with friends who do not smoke. Will your teen’s friend help or support him or her on their smoking plan? Will they try to quit smoking too? Encourage their participation in new activities if he or she is pressurized to smoke. It is better to be with new friends who do not smoke.
- Try to say no. helps your teen to say no to smoking practice. He or she can practice saying, “Thank you I do not like smoking”.
- You should be prepared for carving. Try to remind your teen to hold their craving as in few minutes the craving for nicotine will pass. Tell him or her to take a few deep breaths. Give them toothpicks, cinnamon sticks, sugarless gums or straws to keep his or her mouth busy.
- Opt for stop-smoking products. In some cases the products such as nasal sprays, inhalers, patches, or nicotine gums. You should know that they are not designed for teens. You can consult a doctor to know which is best for your teen.
- Get support. Consult a specialist of tobacco-cessation. The specialist of tobacco-cessation will provide your teen support and tool that she or he might need to stop smoking. Some local organization and hospitals provide support to your teen when she or he is in need of it. They also have stop-smoking groups that are only for teens.
You should remain supportive when your teenager slips. Also, appreciate your teen on the progress she or he had made so far. It will encourage your teenager and motivate them to never give up. Help the teen to identify what is wrong and what he or she can do next time to avoid it.
Above all, you should celebrate the success of your teenager. For a smoke-free day, you can offer him or her their favorite meal or party with their non-smoking friends after a smoke free month or gift them a shirt for a smoke free week. Your approach and appreciation will motivate them to quit smoking to maintain their good health.
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