I have chosen to research the impacts of 2nd and 3rd hand smoke on children ages 3 and 4 years old.
I chose this topic because of my experience in Head Start. Many of our staff are smokers. They smoke before class and during their breaks. The staff are also a majority of former or current parents of children enrolled in Head Start. We have heard that that 2nd hand smoke is bad for children and more studies are coming out now about 3rd hand smoke. How do we inform parents and staff of the research? We are going to have to change years of thinking in regards to smoking...yes many parents now smoke outside instead of inside the house but there is still an impact of how 2nd and 3rd hand smoke impacts children.
I think that this is going to be interesting and a struggle for me as I do not like doing research. Do any of you struggle with this?
Have any of you run into this problem in your programs? We are a smoke free facility but staff go and smoke off campus. Do you have any policies and or research that you would like to share on being a smoke free facility and why you are a smoke free facility?
I have a ton of links to resources to the right - early childhood organizations, parent resources and Head Start.
Hello Malinda!
ReplyDeleteI think that this is an interesting topic because it not only affects children's health, but you are dealing with it daily. As a parent myself, I would not want my child to smell the smoke of his caregivers/teachers. Even if the child is not directly inhaling the secondhand smoke, I would think that just breathing the stench of it on clothing and skin would be irritating for them. Do other non-smoking parents complain? Is it against the law to require they not smell like cigarettes? When I went for a doctor appointment recently, the medical assistant smelled of smoke. The doctor actually asked her if she had smoked? She told him no. I wondered at that point whether or not the doctor could do anything. It seems unhealthy and intrusive for children to be forced to smell that. I can't wait to hear what you discover!
Anne
Intersting topic this is actually the first time I have heard of 3rd hand smoke. I believe that smoking is one way that takes the choice from those around the smoker as to weither or not that person would like to take that risk. It intrudes on a persons personal space Keep us updated on this one as I am a mother to a child that has asthma and its amazing how uneducated people are in reference to how this affects her and yes the smell on clothing does trigger an attack.
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mary harr
Malinda, that is a fascinating topic and one that I think could have a tremendous impact not only for our children, but also in helping those who are uneducated enough to smoke so much as to pass the smell along, to help them possibly quit, or at least cut down, as well. I have never come across an educator that smelled of smoke but I have known of one who would leave occasionally and take smoke breaks. I wonder if she was using an electronic cigarette? Again, very fascinating topic and I look forward to learning more with your discoveries!
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