It Doesn’t End on Father’s Day

Last month many of us thanked our fathers for loving us, tolerating our immature behaviors and just generally putting up with us while we were growing up.  I wonder if many of us realize how influential our fathers are.  Did you know that “…what Dads say, how they act, and the values they communicate through their words and deeds has an enormous influence whether or not kids smoke?” [1]

“As a parent, you are one of the most important persons in a child’s life, especially when it comes to cigarettes.  You can make a big difference in the choices your kids make.

• If you smoke, quit.  If you can’t quit, keep trying.  Children from families who smoke are twice as likely to become smokers themselves — but parents who try to quit and talk to their kids about the how addictive smoking is, why they want to quit, and how important it is to never start can beat those odds.
• Maintain a totally smoke-free home (even if you smoke).
• Educate your child about the dangers of cigarette smoking.
  • Talk about addiction and how hard it is to quit smoking.
  • Emphasize the immediate health effects.
  • Emphasize the effects of smoking on physical appearance.
• Listen to what your child says and does about smoking and encourage your child when he/she makes good choices.
• Ask your child about his/her friends and their attitudes toward smoking.  Discuss peer pressure and how to deal with it effectively.
• Clear up any misunderstandings your child might have about smoking.  For example: everybody is not doing it; getting hooked can happen very quickly, and quitting is very difficult.
• Make sure your kids’ schools have strong and well-enforced no-smoking rules for kids and staff.
• Support federal, state, and local tobacco-prevention efforts.”

Find out more at www.tobaccofreekids.org or contacting Kenton County Alliance at 859-760-2051.

 

---

[1] All of the above quoted items were taken from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Celebrate a Smoke-Free Father’s Day Press Release, May 27, 2010.  http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0237.pdf

Comments