Children

Adult behaviour has a strong influence on children. The children of smokers are much more likely to smoke themselves.  Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is a major cause of childhood disease and ill-health which continues to impact on health in adult life

Children have the right to be protected from secondhand smoke and parents and carers need to ensure that they are protected

• Smoking in pregnancy is major risk to the health of an unborn child. Smokers who are pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant can get free, confidential, specific help and advice from the NHS Stop Smoking helpline 0800 169 9 169
• Make your home smokefree, children are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke at home than anywhere else
•  Declare your car a smokefree zone.  Secondhand smoke in cars poses a real threat to children’s health. Studies have shown that even with a car's windows open, smoke particle concentrations were higher than the levels measured in pubs and bars.
• Ask others to respect and protect your child by following your smokefree approach
• Discuss smoking with your child and provide information about the risks of smoking tobacco. 
• Help your child to understand peer pressure to smoke and give them the confidence to say "no." by providing responses such as "It will make my clothes and breath smell bad", "I hate the way it makes me look” or “I’m saving my money to buy something I really want”.
• Encourage your child to get involved in physical activities that discourage smoking