At this age, your child is becoming a real individual and their personality really begins to shine. They have finally figured out what makes them who they are.
This is not the time to lighten up on your child so they can explore their new sense of self. Children need lots of guidance at this stage and your lessons carry a lot of weight, if presented correctly. They are still open to all sorts of ideas and what you tell them about the dangers of tobacco can have a long lasting impact on them.
By now, your child has already been exposed to tobacco products, whether it’s in the home, in ads or the movies. They are also beginning to listen to their peers at school and other sources beside parents.
Below are some teachable moments you can use with your child:
- Keep your discussions focused on the present. Telling a child that they’ll get cancer someday if they smoke doesn’t mean a thing. Be honest with answers and be ready to do a lot of listening. Finding out what your child’s thoughts are can help guide your teaching.
- When your child sees other smoking, it’s a great time to discuss the subject. Whether they saw someone smoking in a movie or at the entrance to the mall, you can use the occasion to stress the message that it’s distasteful and unhealthy. Again, let your child ask questions and ask them how they feel about the use of tobacco products.
- Be aware that if you use tobacco products you are sending the wrong message to your kids. Children love to imitate their parents. It’s a large part of the way they learn about the world. It creates a conflict when you tell a child they shouldn’t smoke even though you do.
- Find ways for your children to express themselves. They may not want to talk about a subject, but they may communicate in other ways, whether it’s through drawings, stories or paintings. Encourage your child to use whatever method works best for them.
- Conflict resolution is a skill your child will use all their life. Help them work on peaceful conflict resolution and use the opportunity to address peer pressure and how to handle it.
- Get to know your child’s friends and their parents. Teach them that they don’t have to be friends with someone that does something they don’t like, such as smokes, steals, lies, etc. And they should never stay friends with someone who tries to be controlling or makes them feel bad. Make sure the parents of your child’s friends have similar values or are teaching the same things at home.
- Involve your child in activities, programs and groups that support a healthy lifestyle. The scouts, sports teams, faith-based organizations and other community groups can help your child with their self-esteem while letting them have fun with like-minded children and adults.