Discussion Questions:

• What kinds of questions do you have about smoking?

• I'd like to talk about your smoking because I love you and I'm worried about you. What made you start smoking?

• I don't want you to get sick. What do you know about the dangers of smoking?

• What do you like about smoking? What makes you want to keep doing it?

• Do you feel pressured to smoke?

• How do you feel about us working together to help you stop smoking?

If your child is not smoking:

• What do you know about smoking?

• Do you no anyone who smokes? What are they like? Do you ever feel pressured to smoke?

• Why do you think some kids smoke? Do you think smoking makes kids feel better about themselves? Why? What are some better ways to feel good about yourself?

• What have you heard about smoking being dangerous?

• If you had a friend who was smoking, would you try to help him or her? How?

• How would you say no to someone is he or she asked if you wanted a cigarette?

• How would you handle it if kids made fun of you for choosing not to smoke?

Remember:
--Have a two-way conversation with your child. Be sure to take the time to hear what he or she has to say and don't judge.

--Tell your child how you would feel if he or she tried smoking. Be careful not to lecture.

--Establish consequences. Explain how disappointed your would feel or what you would do if he or she smoked.

--Help your child come up with creative ways to resist peer pressure early on so that he or she will be better prepared. Role-play together.

--If your child is smoking, know that it is upsetting for any parent to discover that their child is participating in something that is harmful to them. Tell your child that you want him or her to stop right now. Say that if he continues to smoke, there will be consequences. Be sure to follow through with the consequences, but stay calm and remind your child that you love him and want him or her to live a long, healthy life.

If you are a smoker:

--Even if you smoke, you can still have a positive impact on your child's decision to not smoke. One of the most important things you can do is tell your child you don't want him or her to smoke.

--Don't smoke around your child. By doing so, you are exposing him or her to harmful secondhand smoke.

--If you want to quit, tell your child so, but you must follow through and at least make the effort to quit.

--Explain that while you smoke, it is not appropriate for kids to do so.

--Tell your child that you know smoking is very easy to start, but it's also very hard to stop.