| Both the things you do and the things your children do | | | | better judges of character. |
| will affect the kind of adults that they turn out to be. | | | | Another aspect of teaching good decision making is |
| Every negative thing they do now will eventually catch | | | | leading by example. If you tell your children it is bad to |
| up with them. | | | | smoke but smoke yourself, what kind of message are |
| For example, as children get older they are pressured | | | | you sending? If you want your children to lead a |
| to try things like smoking. Children are too short-sighted | | | | healthy life, the time to quit is now. Similarly, if you teach |
| to see how smoking affects them. Since they can not | | | | your children good eating and exercise habits, they will |
| see their lungs blackening, since they do not presently | | | | grow into strong, healthy adults, but you have to hold |
| have shortness of breath or smokers' cough, they do | | | | up your end of the deal, too. |
| not acknowledge these negative effects. They fail to | | | | Children, especially very young children, tend to idolize |
| see the dangers of smoking because they are only | | | | mom and dad. How often have you heard children |
| concerned with the present and are not thinking about | | | | saying they want to be just like mom or dad when |
| how their actions will have consequences in the future. | | | | they grow up? Parents need to set good examples |
| As a parent, it is your job to teach them that each of | | | | because their children tend to follow in their footsteps. |
| their actions has consequences. Talk to your children | | | | No one is perfect, and parents are no exception. Being |
| not only about the dangers of smoking, drugs and | | | | a good parent isn't about being perfect; it's about living |
| alcohol, but also about good decision making. Ask them | | | | the best life you can not only for your children, but for |
| where they are going, with whom and how long they | | | | yourself. Taking care of yourself is important so that |
| will be gone. Your kids may not appreciate this now, | | | | you will be around for your children for years to come. |
| but they will see how your nagging pays off when | | | | In the same way that smoking can lead to using an |
| they are older. | | | | oxygen tank in 25 years, giving your children a healthy, |
| The people your children spend time with can have | | | | loving and stable environment to grow up in can lead |
| just as big of an influence on them as how they are | | | | to a lifetime of success. Every parent only wants the |
| spending their time. Falling in with the wrong crowd can | | | | best for their children, but the best doesn't come |
| lead them to very destructive lives. The pressure to fit | | | | naturally. Parent and child must work to be the best |
| in or be included may cause your child to see them as | | | | person they can be. |
| friends, but parents have an unbiased view and are | | | | |