If smoking settles during adolescence, smoking cessation is more difficult and the risk of not letting the body unharmed after weaning is greater. Thus, primary prevention is the least costly and most effective. For that smoking does not become a pediatric disease, we must work together towards a single goal: the young must not start smoking.
Cigarettes are still too often linked to seduction and success. To impress the entourage to do as others, to appropriate symbol that passage to adulthood and vis-à-vis parents independence, one in two children in the panel falls in adolescence. If you parents, you smoke, you have to wonder how discourage your child from smoking, when addressing this theme and adopt what speech.
Some numbers
Nearly 30% of young people aged 12 to 19 smoke.
Less than 5% smoke and 13 years, over 50% at 19 years.
The number of young smokers decline since 1977, however, since the 80s, girls smoke more than boys.
In 80% of cases, the first cigarette is smoked in adolescence.
We can roughly distinguish three age at which the child is more or less sensitive to recommendations, banned and medical justifications.
There is no ideal age to talk about it, the sooner the better. However, depending on the age of your child, listening will be different. You must therefore adapt your arguments.
Children
From 8-12 years, children's position on tobacco is quite settled. They then consider that tobacco is dangerous to health, smells and stings the eyes. The image of smokers some members of his family in his eyes reflects the difficulty of stopping. At this age, children are hungry for knowledge on all topics; so, we must be able to speak to him of the harmful effects of smoking on the respiratory system - bronchial picture of a smoker in support - and the entire body of harmful substances contained in cigarette smoke. During this first age, it should best prepare children to the temptations of adolescence.
Adolescence
At this age, dialogue with parents (symbol of authority that the teenager wants to eliminate) is sometimes difficult. The personality, like the body, are under construction.