Children's centres should seize this opportunity to work with parents and support them to stop smoking. Many centres already offer smoking-cessation sessions or clinics. Helping parents quit will improve their lives and their children's wellbeing as well as contributing to children's centre targets and wider local health goals.
Find a quiet, private room in which to offer smoking cessation advice and counselling. Giving up smoking is stressful so parents need a comfortable, relaxed environment to talk over their concerns. Make sure there is some form of childcare on offer such as creche facilities so parents can focus on the task in hand. Be honest. Giving up smoking is not easy and people trying to quit will experience cravings, sleepless nights, increased sweating, tiredness and mood swings among other symptoms. At the same time you need to stress the health benefits for them and their children. Moreover, most families will be a lot better off without having to pay for cigarettes.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
