for parents

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY

Dear Parent/Guardian/Family Member,

Would you like to talk with the young person in your family about making good decisions, including the decision to be tobacco free? This activity will provide you with tools to broach the subject.

for parents

To begin, set aside some time to spend together in front of the computer. If possible, limit distractions so your youngster will be better able to focus.

for parents

Then, go online together to watch a video.

For kids in grades 5-6: "Skater Boy"

For kids in grades 7: "Surprise Chat"

For kids in grades 8-9: "Geek at the party"

Pause the video when prompted and refer to the talking points on the following screens to engage with your youngster during the pause.

for parents

While the video is paused, talk to your young person about how the video relates to him or her by asking these questions:

Have you ever been in an uncomfortabe situation like this? (Parent/Family: to encourage your child, you may wish to share an example of an uncomfortabe situation you've experienced as an adult, teen, or pre-teen.)
If so, what was the situation? How did you deal with it? How do you feel about how you dealt with it?
If not, have you ever been around a friend when she/he was in an uncomfortable situation like this one? How did your friend deal with it? How do you feel about the way your friend dealt with it?

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Additional questions to ask:

What are some good things to keep in mind when you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation? (Listen to your young person's response. Then, if appropriate, suggest the tips listed below.)

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, ask yourself:

What do I want to happen?
What are my options?
What could happen?
What will I do?
How do I know I made the right decision?

for parents

After talking, click below to continue watching the rest of the video together. When the video ends, ask the follow-up questions.

For kids in grades 5-6: "Skater Boy"

How do you feel about the decision Benjamin made? Why?
What would you have done in this situation?

For kids in grades 7: "Surprise Chat"

How do you feel about the decision Paul made? Why?
What would you have done?

For kids in grades 8-9: "Geek at the party"

How do you feel about the decision Angela made? Why?
What would you have done if you wanted to talk to someone but your friend didn't want you to?

for parents

With your young person, read the "How to Say 'No'" poster.

Then, consider the suggestions on the following screen and try out some or all of them by role-playing 2-3 of the situations.

Click to view

for parents

Possible Situations to role-play:

(Parent/Family: Switch roles with your young person so sometimes you are the one being pressured.)

At a sleep-over party and in front of a group of friends, a good-looking older sibling of the youngster who's having the party asks your child to drink a beer or smoke a cigarette.
After school, an older student who seems cool offers your young person a cigarette.
In a school bathroom, a popular student pressures your young person to write something mean about another student on the wall.
A student everyone seems to like pressures your youngster to start a rumor or post something mean about another student online or via social media.

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Wrap up by letting your youngster know that uncomfortable situations can be made a little better by thinking carefully before acting.

Then, ask your young person to tell you when uncomfortable situations occur so you can help him or her figure out how to approach the situations.

Thanks for taking these steps to help your young person make good decisions and be tobacco free!

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY COMPLETE!

ACTIVITY
COMPLETE!