Talking to children about Vaping

[4am]

My 8 year old son is extremely fascinated with anything electronic. He has been talking non-stop about my volt that's coming.

I've been telling him it's only for adults who are trying to quit smoking but I'm concerned that he isn't taking it seriously enough.

Have any of you had this issue? Any advice?

My intention is to better my health through vaping, not to potentially get my son interested in this...

Thanks!
-Heather

 

[DaBatMan]

Great topic. I too have an 8 year old in the house that always gives me that curious look as she sees me vape... almost making me want to step out onto the back porch like I used to do with analogs. Will definitely have to find some more secure places for my gear.

 

[Vermonster13]

Tell him it is to keep you off cigarettes which he more than likely understands are very bad for you. Let him know that vaping still has risks and while safer for you than smoking are not safe for a child and never starting is the best thing for anyone's health. I have had to have the same conversation with my 8 year old son.

 

[Nunnster]

My 3 year old didn't like the smoke from an analog, and asked me to quit (prob egged on from my wife) so now that I have an ecig, she just says "its not real smoke" but I tell her that it will still hurt her if she touches it and that its only for adults. Hopefully by the time she is old enough to exert her own will I have put it into her head that "its bad" enough that she wont be interested.

 

[Dingus]

My 11 year old daughter is supportive. She also understands that nicotine would be harmful to her, especially since her body isn't used to it like mine.
She also saw me try quitting cigarettes dozens of times, and fail. So the chance is very slim that she tries it (at least for now, we'll see how it goes when she's older).

 

[wdave]

My 8 year old son is extremely fascinated with anything electronic. He has been talking non-stop about my volt that's coming.

I've been telling him it's only for adults who are trying to quit smoking but I'm concerned that he isn't taking it seriously enough.

Have any of you had this issue? Any advice?

My intention is to better my health through vaping, not to potentially get my son interested in this...

Thanks!
-Heather

I avoided smoking cigs around my kids. None of the three of them picked up the habit. Hmmmmm.....

 

[zerominusone]

All the kids I've been around since I've switched to vaping have been awe-struck by it; totally AMAZED. I just make sure to tell 'em that even though it's better than cigarettes, it's still not good for you and you shouldn't do it.

 

[Marb]

Even at 6 and 7, my daughters were very happy that I stopped smoking and started vaping. Since I now have no problem vaping in the house, the truck and just about anywhere else I never used to smoke, they've shown some passing interest. Mostly just as a "what's that flavor?" But a couple times in the beginning they asked if they could try it. And my response was to explain that even though it is a lot safer than cigarettes, it's still not completely safe, that it's for adults only and it contains stuff that would possibly be harmful to them. It hasn't really been an issue since.

As for them potentially being more likely to pick up some sort of nicotine habit due to my habits? I'd hope they didn't at all, but if they did, I'd much rather they took up vaping rather than smoking (when they're MUCH older, of course).

 

[tommy2bad]

Why are you all still telling anyone that it's harmful, just better than cigarettes?
Wheres the evidence for this assertion?
As to talking to kids! just leave em a book an tell em "if they have any questions ask your mother"

 

[Dingus]

Why are you all still telling anyone that it's harmful, just better than cigarettes?

Because :
- we don't want our kids to try it.
- just the fact that it's addictive is harmful by itself. It costs me money, and I am dependent.
- I always say that it's "possibly" harmful. There's no evidence that it is, but we can't say for sure that it's safe.
- even if it's harmless, it may not be harmless for children.

 

[Zhukaya]

Wow, parents who are going to lie or deceive their own children are only going to give their kids justification to lie and deceive them.
(To my children) Nicotine is for adults and adults get into trouble for letting anyone under 18 use nicotine. That includes me, and when you do this before you're 18, then you put me in danger. I love you, I won't deceive you, and I want to keep you safe; and I need you to do the same for me. When you turn 18, I will buy you your own PV of your choice, if this is what you want to do. Cause I'd rather you use a PV than to smoke a cigarette.

 

[Dingus]

How is telling them that it might be harmful for them lying to them?

 

[uba egar320]

Why are you all still telling anyone that it's harmful, just better than cigarettes?
Wheres the evidence for this assertion?
As to talking to kids! just leave em a book an tell em "if they have any questions ask your mother"

Where's the evidence that it's not? That door swings both ways. As much as I like to vape, it hasn't been around long enough to know for sure what the long term effects are going to be. That's a fact...

 

[DaBatMan]

Wow, parents who are going to lie or deceive their own children are only going to give their kids justification to lie and deceive them.
(To my children) Nicotine is for adults and adults get into trouble for letting anyone under 18 use nicotine. That includes me, and when you do this before you're 18, then you put me in danger. I love you, I won't deceive you, and I want to keep you safe; and I need you to do the same for me. When you turn 18, I will buy you your own PV of your choice, if this is what you want to do. Cause I'd rather you use a PV than to smoke a cigarette.

I tried telling my kids this once... They now no longer eat vegetables.

 

[wdave]

Wow, parents who are going to lie or deceive their own children are only going to give their kids justification to lie and deceive them.
(To my children) Nicotine is for adults and adults get into trouble for letting anyone under 18 use nicotine. That includes me, and when you do this before you're 18, then you put me in danger. I love you, I won't deceive you, and I want to keep you safe; and I need you to do the same for me. When you turn 18, I will buy you your own PV of your choice, if this is what you want to do. Cause I'd rather you use a PV than to smoke a cigarette.

I man who sees his alcoholic father having fun will probably become an alcoholic. A man who sees his alcoholic father struggle with serious depression will probably not become an alcoholic

Stay humble and apologetic about vaping.

 

[Vermonster13]

Why are you all still telling anyone that it's harmful, just better than cigarettes?
Wheres the evidence for this assertion?
As to talking to kids! just leave em a book an tell em "if they have any questions ask your mother"

Lots of studies show how harmful nicotine is.

 

[sweetmeat]

Why are you all still telling anyone that it's harmful, just better than cigarettes?
Wheres the evidence for this assertion?
As to talking to kids! just leave em a book an tell em "if they have any questions ask your mother"

I'll tell people that it is absolutely harmless in 20-30 years when the long term evidence is there to back it up. I think it's much safer than cigs for sure, but no one knows what happens to our lungs when vaporising large amounts of PG/VG and flavorings all day every day for that time period. Yes people use this in asthma inhalers but I guarantee you they don't take upwards of 100 puffs per day, or stand in front of a smoke machine constantly, so really we don't know yet.

 

[uba egar320]

I'll tell people that it is absolutely harmless in 20-30 years when the long term evidence is there to back it up. I think it's much safer than cigs for sure, but no one knows what happens to our lungs when vaporising large amounts of PG/VG and flavorings all day every day for that time period. Yes people use this in asthma inhalers but I guarantee you they don't take upwards of 100 puffs per day, or stand in front of a smoke machine constantly, so really we don't know yet.

Agree. And +1 for the user name "Sweetmeat" lol. Good stuff.

 

[keyzygirl]

Just be honest,tell them your using it to quit smoking.Its like medicine and can be harmful to people who dont need it.We wouldnt let them chew nic gum or wear a patch.Its always best to try to explain it.

 

[tommy2bad]

Lots of studies show how harmful nicotine is.

And lots show how beneficial it is,
God ye sound like ANTZ just addicted antz.
Look nic is addictive and shouldn't be consumed by anyone not able to make the informed choice themselves. Admitting harm is admitting that the antz are right. News Flash they are not right. Vaping may not be 100% safe but neither is any damn thing, we balance risk with benefit. Whats so wrong with that.