Must Know Facts : Age Specific Advice

Remember that the ideas and words you use when talking to your kids about smoking should be tailored to their age and understanding level. The consequences you discuss will be better received if they fit their current situation. Whether your child is 8 or 12 or 14, make sure you communicate effectively to achieve the best results.

Ages 6 - 8
With younger children, simply using words like “stinky” and “yucky” when you see people smoking on television can help reinforce the message that you do not approve of smoking. This type of nonobtrusive communication is an effective way to turn the image of “smoking is cool” into “smoking is yucky.”

Ages 9-11
Use visuals to help reinforce your anti-smoking message. If you see an ad in a magazine that makes smoking look disgusting, cut it out and share it with your child. Talk together about the message of the ad and get their thoughts on the effectiveness of the message. Remember to talk without lecturing. If you are watching television together and a smoking-prevention commercial comes on, take time to talk about it later. You can also search the web for anti-smoking websites and look at them together.
Ages 12-15
You can increase the effectiveness of your message by having it delivered by a victim of a tobacco-related illness. If you have a close friend or relative who has suffered such an illness, arrange a meeting with your teenager. If the person is in the hospital, this can be even better. Don’t be afraid to intrude on the person. Chances are they will appreciate the opportunity to use the story of their mistake to help someone else avoid illness they are suffering from. This is strictly a PG-13 experience and not recommended for younger children.