Information for parents and carers

Your local stop smoking service is here to help your child quit smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to quit with support from a local stop smoking service.  

Free support is available to anyone 12 years or older who lives, works, goes to school in Coventry or Warwickshire, or is registered with a Coventry or Warwickshire GP. Visit our local stop smoking service page to access these services.   

The following tips are from a quit vaping campaign produced by Smokefree Sheffield, in collaboration with ASH and local authorities across Yorkshire and Humber. 

• Find the right moment when you see someone vaping, walk past a vape shop or see advertisements. 
• Ask questions: what do they think about vaping? Do they know people who vape? Why do they think people vape? 
• Listen to them and learn from them, but also use your knowledge to help them understand the facts and that vapes are not harmless. 
• Talk about your expectations: explain your concerns and tell them why you don’t want them to vape or smoke and to make clear that although neither are recommended, smoking is the far greater risk. 
• Let them know that you care about them, and explain that those who knowingly sell vapes to under 18s don’t care who they sell to, they are just interested in making money. Talk about the different reasons
• why children may vape. Give examples such as wanting to fit in, curiosity, stress. Talk through effective ways to respond if they ever feel pressured to try it and practise responding together. 
• If your child is vaping, try to understand why they are vaping by asking questions like “What do you enjoy about vaping?” Or “How does vaping make you feel?”. This might help you to understand their needs and discuss other ways to meet them.