Tell parents that if they do not smoke, their children are one-half as likely to begin smoking as children whose parents smoke. Also, if the older children in the family can be encouraged not to smoke, the risk of the younger children beginning to smoke is again cut by half. Ask family members who smoke to set a stop date and offer them therapy to support their cessation efforts. Encourage children to have friends who do not smoke. Tell children that tobacco companies want their money.
Cigarette advertising is very effective in influencing children.
Ask older children if they want to be influenced by marketing ploys. Ask children what they believe are the reasons other children smoke. Children are exposed to thousands of occasions when they are rewarded for imitating their peers in clothing, slang, sports, music, recreation and opinions. The meaning of each of these reasons could be discussed with the child. Risk-taking behavior is also associated with smoking.