Students pose for pictures with "big cigarette models" during a campaign ahead of the World No Tobacco Day.
One can completely understand the stress of having to counsel children
against unhealthy lifestyle habits; smoking and tobacco consumption
being one of the most damaging. The burgeoning trend of impressionable
children picking up a cigarette is not really that surprising – the
thrill of trying something new, peer pressure, increasing their “cool
quotient”, or aping role models – all of this contributes to this habit.
What is particularly disturbing is that, despite the networked and
knowledge based environment that we live in, many children are still
oblivious to the ill effects of smoking,not just on their health but
also on their overall lifestyle.
Parents obviously want to
protect their children from this habit; at the same time, one cannot
really curb their day to day activities or social circle. Therefore,
rather than stressing every time yourchild goes to a party, you should
proactively counsel thechildand educate him/her about the various ill
effects that this habit can have. Here are a few pointers which I think
can help parents dissuade their kids from giving in to this habit:
Set a good example
– There are no better role models for a child than his parents. You
must therefore set an example by not smoking yourself. Take a look
around – chances are anyone who you know who smokes, has had a parent
who smoked as well. And it is really not very effective when a person
who smokes tries to educate another person against it.
Have an open mind
– Try to be less of a father and more of a friend to your kids. Do not
vilify them if you come to know about their smoking habits. Try to
empathize and understand their part of the story. Shouting is seldom
effective in such scenarios and instead try and understand why your
child took up the habit in the first place. After you get a sense of the
root cause, you will be better equipped to tackle the issue and come up
with a solution.
Educate them about the ill effects on their health
– sit them down and educate them about the repercussions smoking will
have on their health in the long run. Addiction at a young age is
difficult to break even as an adult. Cite examples of people you know
who gave up smoking or lost the battle against it, make them
readanecdotes and blogs on the topic, and ask them what exactly is it
doing for them? Can they not find that pleasure or coolness in other
activities? Isn’t learning the drums or dancing the salsa cooler?
Show them the bigger picture – For a
teenager, a health threat alone might not be a strong enough factor
toquit or refrain from smoking. Therefore, try to paint a larger
picture. Tell them about the financial consequences this habit might
have on them. Give them a sense of the amount of money they will end up
“turning to ashes” and the long term repercussions in terms of paying
for health services; for a smoker, life and health insurance products
come at a premium and in some cases chronic smokers are denied any
insurance at all.Counsel them on how they can put this money to a better
and more productive use. Also educate them about passive smoking and
how this habit will not only harm them but also their loved ones.
Vices
such as smoking and tobacco consumption, if not tackled carefully, can
escalate into bigger issues that will impact the future of the child. As
parents we should be vigilant, understanding and supportive and do all
we can to ensure a healthier future for our children.
No comments:
Post a Comment