Smoking prevention using experiential learning in children aged 5-9 yo

It is well established that attitudes and behaviors are strongly tied to childhood. The use of conventional teaching techniques as speeches and anti-smoking campaigns have been instrumental in shaping smoking attitudes but showed poor outcomes in smoking prevention among teenagers. In contrast experiential learning has proven helpful in improving outcomes and motivating pupils. We aim to investigate children9s perceptions towards healthy habits especially smoking and then subsequently reinforce their positive perceptions/attitudes through experiential learning. Hitherto, we visited 20 Nursery Schools and 25 Primary Schools in Athens; about 900 children benefited. We wrote and illustrated specifically “The fairy tale of breath” and engaged children in 5 activities (brainstorming, tale narration, role playing, singing, self expression) with much emphasis on making them active learners so as to convey knowledge and positive attitude towards good health and resist peer pressure.In order to evaluate what the children have internalized, we encouraged them to draw items of admiration and dislike. Repeated patterns are identified and critical understanding of children9s creations is developed. In addition the colors used were correlated with positive or negative healthy or smoking habits/behaviors. We found that 87% of children understood the importance of keeping healthy lungs as expressed both verbally and in drawings. Those findings confirmed the paramount importance of experiential learning as a strategic tool for identifying and eventually adapting healthy habits and avoiding smoking initiation. However these interventions should be repeated regularly as children grow up in order to establish these attitudes.