Smoke Free and Ready to Learn
As reported in Education Week, living with a smoker (or several smokers) increases school absenteeism. A study in Pediatrics found that students who live with one adult smoker miss on average 1.06 days more than children in non-smoking homes. Those who live with two or more smokers missed 1.5 more days. These kids have higher rates of ear infections and other respiratory illnesses. Other studies have found links between smoking and asthma, which in turn contributes to absenteeism.
We all know smoking is an addiction that is hard to break. We also know that the vast majority of parents want what is best for their kids. Schools and educators seeking to make a difference may want to consider connecting parents to resources for quitting or even offering smoking cessation sessions at school.