How to talk to your child about vaping

Posted: 22nd September 2026

An image shows the inside of a shop selling vape products.

Nearly one fifth of 11- to 17-year-olds in the UK have tried vaping. Because vapes haven’t been around for very long, the long-term health risks aren’t yet known. But, we do know that they’re bad for our health, based on what we know about nicotine and other chemicals in vapes.

Vapes contain nicotine, an addictive substance that affects brain development in people under 25. They can contain or produce other chemicals too, including formaldehyde, acetone and cancer-causing benzene. Vaping is not risk-free and can lead to lung problems and affect the health of your mouth and teeth.

Like smoking, peer pressure can lead children and young people to vape. Vapes are often colourful and flavoured in such a way as to attract children, too. So if you want to speak to your child about vaping, or if you are worried about them vaping, we have some advice for starting a conversation.

Choose a good time to talk

If your child is tired after a long day at school, they might not be receptive to a chat about the dangers of vaping. Pick a time when you can both concentrate, somewhere where your child can speak openly without worrying about being overheard by other people.

Find out what they know

Aask your child what they know about vaping. You can ask them if they know of people who use them and why they use them. You could ask them if they’ve ever tried it and what they thought of it.

Experts generally agree that vaping is less harmful than smoking, but that it is far from risk-free. Listen to your child, their experience, and to what they know about vaping. Calmly show you are interested in what they have to say and give them some facts about vaping. It can help to use some verified information, such as from the NHS website.

If your child is already using a vape, then have the same conversation with them and ask them what they like about it. You are not saying it’s OK for them to do it, by being interested. You can still be clear about how you feel.

Talk about peer pressure

If they feel pressured into vaping by friends, you can teach them helpful skills of being confident in saying ‘no thanks, it’s not for me’. Help your child decide what their boundaries are and explain to them that real friends will respect their decisions.

It can be hard to avoid peer pressure completely, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to limit its impact and help young people to be more confident in themselves and their decision making. Reassure your young person that you are there to talk if they do experience a situation where they are feeling pressured into doing something.

How we support parents at SELFA

Parents Together

Every Tuesday from 10am to 11.30am at Coopers Cafe Bar in Skipton.

Parents Together is a free weekly support group run by the SELFA Children’s Charity in Skipton for parents and carers. It’s a welcoming, informal space for coffee, conversation, and building a peer support network. We discuss topics including mental wellbeing, safe care and vaping.

Please contact Michaela Jacques if you want to find out more about Parents Together:

01756 533110, michaela.jacques@selfa.org.uk

Families Together

Families Together is a free, 10-week whole-family support programme for primary-age children and their parents/carers. It’s designed to strengthen family wellbeing, build confidence and give families practical tools they can use together at home.

The sessions take place every Monday from 4pm to 5.30pm at Brooklands School, Skipton.

Children will take part in our fun and engaging 10-week Wellbeing Warriors programme, where they’ll have a safe and supportive space to: understand and express their emotions, explore mindfulness and calming techniques, develop coping strategies for difficult feelings, and build confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

While children are taking part in their sessions, parents and carers can join a welcoming, informal space to meet other families, share experiences and connect with people who understand the joys and challenges of family life. Places are offered to the family as a whole.

Contact admin@selfa.org.uk for more information!