Even though it may seem that your kids rarely listen, they do!

Talk the talk with your kids. Talk early and often and hear what they have to say. Then be honest and speak from your heart. Ask questions and try not to be judgmental when hearing the answers. Reassure them, so they won’t be afraid of punishment.

Get involved in their lives. Know what’s going on in and out of school. Ask questions about their friends, where they hang out, and whether they have been asked to smoke a cigarette before.

Help your child develop skills to refuse smoking. Click here for ways to say no to smoking.

If your child smokes, encourage him or her to quit.

• Resist lecturing!
• Offer to help. Set up rewards that matter to them, like movie tickets or a trip to a favorite store.
• Make a big deal on Quit Day. Feel proud and be supportive.
• Be patient during the withdrawal period, when you’re teen can feel lousy and moody. Think about being a little less demanding concerning homework and chores for a few days.
• Encourage exercise. Taking a walk or shooting some hoops is a great way to relieve a craving to smoke and relieve stress—and can be fun!
• Be realistic. It may take more than once to quit smoking and stay quit for good. Congratulate your teen for trying. Help your son or daughter realize that things don’t always work out the first time;
• Figure out what caused the slip and suggest a way to handle a problem when it happens again. Be supportive and help your teen get back on track as soon as possible.
• Go to www.teenquit.com for more help.