Why has my 15 year old daughter started smoking?

Question

People know how bad it is for you these days, and I've said to her it doesnt make you look cool, just either stupid or so addicted you cant give up.

if anyone knows anything about young people, they'll know that 15 isnt a kid!

Answer 1

The reason might be important in solving this problem, but it is not essential.
May be she started out of curiosity, or may be she wants to draw your attention, may be she just wants to be more like her friends.
But the real issue is how to convince her this is not the path to follow.
I think you should try talk to her as a friend more than as her parent, see how she feels and thinks about it. Keep your voice law, don't start teaching her lessons but lead her in drawing her own conclusions.
The worst move would be to forbid her smoking, but you can tell her you don't want her smoking in your presence, and ask her to really consider this problem as a sign of respect towards the efforts you made raising her and keeping her safe all these 15 years.

Answer 2

Because despite what people's parents say smoking is cool. In fact because parents say it isn't cool that is what makes it cool. If I told a bunch of kids that dressing in camp little sailor suits was cool they wouldn't do it.
Also teenage girls have other concerns than their lungs such as fashion, school, clothes, boys and their weight - and smoking is well known as an appitite supressor.
The best way to make her give up smoking would be to point out that at say £3 ($6) a day is for cigs then this is £20 per week and well over £1000 per year. Offer her to buy her something she really wants (like an I-pod, or a coat or whatever girls like these days) in exchange for her to stop - it would be a good incentive to quit and would save her money and you worry in the long run. If she starts again she will have to pay you back the money for the bribe and thus will not be able to afford to buy many cigs.

Answer 3

Could be peer pressure, an experimental phase, rebellion, a cry for attention.
My sister started smoking at 14 and when my parents found out they went ballistic.
My Dad's method, albeit cruel, worked like a charm. He sat with her and asked her why she smoked. She said she liked the taste.
He then presented her with a 20 pack and said if she liked the taste so much she's have no trouble smoking all 20 in a row. He said if she did he'd respect her decision to smoke. By the 7th cigarette she was feeling so ill that she cried and asked him not to make her do it.
That was 15 years ago and not one single cigarette has passed her lips since then.
Other family members have tried it on their kids and it's worked.
Kind of cruel in one way, but it's effective. She'll hopefully associate feeling incredibly ill and nauseous with smoking and will make her think twice about it.
It's important that you SEEM supportive and respectful towards her. Kind of reverse psychology.
If you catch it before she becomes really hooked then it should prove effective.
Good luck if you decide to try it.
xx

Answer 4

She thinks she is cool. When I started smoking, I thought it made me a bada**. I was about 16 when I started. Kids don't realize that they look totally stupid with a cigarette hanging out of their face especially at such a young age. I quit smoking years ago and the first thing I noticed was the smell of smoke on other people. I couldn't believe I smelled like that to everyone else. Hopefully she'll quit sooner than later. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

Unfortunately - and this goes for me as well when I was 15 - kids start to experiment with smoking. I spose it's a number of things, peer pressure or just curiosity.

I don't know how to go about laying down the law about it as some teens may rebel - sorry I can't be of much help.

Saying that, my sister tried it and didn't like it. Yours may do the same.

Good luck on that one.

Answer 6

She Is Lucky She Starts At 15
So Let Her
If She Wants To Give Up One Day
She Will
The More People Nags At Her
The More I Think She Rebels
So
Let Her Enjoy For Now

Answer 7

First off dont listen to those who say its poor parenting. I know poor parenting exists, but you're here aye, thats good, Yes? Secondly my daughter came to live with me at 14. Her mum could not cope and she was in with a bad crowd. We talked openly and honestly about sexual activity and after checking with her mother I suggested my daughter speak to our doctor about going on the pill. I knew she was going to be sexually active, its reality today, I knew that I could not Force her not to be - the backlash would have been worse, I knew I had to protect her from herself till she realised she had to protect herself. Not that she is stupid, just that at that age kids think they know everything and I wanted to accomodate that without being an ogre. Today she is 19, we still talk, she is at uni studying forensic science and NOT pregnant. You know your child, you know the dynamics of the situation. Talk to her and take the best course for you both. You cant make her listen and it is a balance between achieveing a positive result and driving a wedge (though a small one that will be overcome) between you. Good luck with it... you worry dont ya!!

Answer 8

She wants to be an adult .

Make her sit down and smoke 20 cigs lighting one after another without pause , it will make her violently sick and very probably put her off cigs forever .

PS, this wont cause her any permanent damage to her health because the body can repair damage when it is allowed ,

That's what makes smoking so bad your body cannot repair the damage caused by one cig before the next cig adds to the damage .

Answer 9

She wants too.

Don't tell her it's not cool - That makes it cool - she wants to rebel - be realistic and encourage her to be sensible but don't stoke the flames of rebellion. She will realise it for herself and is just trying to assert herself in her way. She is trying to be independent.

Remember the tighter you grip - the more sand slips through your fingers.

Peace and good luck.

Answer 10

well hopefully she will learn that it isn't cool probably just a phase that she will grow out of, just make it difficult for her by not letting her smoke near to the house/car/ you etc

for the record most have tried it when we were young