Start Talking and Start Early<\/b><\/div>\n

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<\/b>I don’t think it is ever too early to start a conversation with you child about smoking. My children started noticing people smoking at a very young age. We have always been honest with them, and over the years our conversations have evolved.<\/div>\n
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Any time is a good time to talk<\/strong>, whether in the car or around the table. Draw their attention to all the no smoking signs in public places, then discuss the reasons why smoking is not permitted there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Be Honest About The Health Effects<\/b><\/p>\n
This is not a time to sugar coat things for your child<\/strong>. In fact, I think you must be brutally honest. If you know of someone in your family that has died or has serious health effects as a result of smoking, let them know about that.<\/p>\n
Talk with them about how addictive tobacco products are<\/strong> and how hard it can be to stop smoking.<\/strong> Talk about cancer, heart and lung disease, emphysema and more. Beyond that, make sure you discuss the immediate effects of smoking like stinky clothes, hair and breath<\/strong>. Let them know that smoking can make them more prone to acne and how negatively it can affect their athletic performance and endurance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Set a Good Example<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
In our house, it is easy, because my husband and I do not smoke. We don’t allow smoking in our house or around our kids. If you smoke, try your best to not light up in front of your kids.<\/strong> Talk to them about what a mistake it was to start smoking and just how hard it is to quit. <\/strong><\/p>\n
Prepare Your Kids to Deal with Peer Pressure<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
The pressure from your child’s friends at school is something that will likely be an issue as your kids get older.<\/span> Arm them with appropriate responses <\/span><\/strong>to use if they are offered tobacco<\/span>. You can even make it fun by role-playing situations with your child. Some good responses are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“No thanks, I don’t want my clothes to stink like smoke”<\/div>\n
“No, I need to stay in shape for baseball or whatever sport they play.”<\/div>\n
“No thanks, I know people who have died from smoking.”<\/div>\n
“No, I am not really into starting something that can kill me.”<\/div>\n
“No, smoking is really gross.”<\/div>\n
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Talk About Different Kinds of Tobacco and Smoking<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Make sure you explain that even “smoke-free” alternatives are dangerous<\/strong>. Let them know, electronic cigarettes (vaping, electric hookahs) still have serious health effects because they use nicotine and other toxic chemicals.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Discuss the dangers of using chewing tobacco that contains almost 30 cancer-causing chemicals<\/strong> and is highly addicted.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Talk About the Way Tobacco Products Are Marketed<\/b><\/p>\n
Have a frank discussion about the tactics behind the marketing. My kids get angry when we talk about how these companies are advertising to young people. <\/strong><\/p>\n
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I have also signed the \u201cSeen Enough Tobacco\u201d petition<\/a> to tell big tobacco our kids have seen enough.<\/strong> I hope you will too! You can sign the petition by clicking HERE<\/a><\/strong>. Let’s make sure these companies know that this type of marketing is not alright!<\/strong><\/p>\n
For more information and resources<\/strong> you can visit the Tobacco Free New York State Website<\/a> and follow them on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Let me know any tips you have for talking to your kids about smoking<\/strong> and the way tobacco companies are marketing to them. <\/strong><\/p>\n
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