A Talk with Your Kids About Smoking

A Talk with Your Kids About Smoking is essentially a talking-head man-in-a-suit giving a “Don't Start Smoking” lecture to an auditorium full of middle school kids, serving up a handful of anti-smoking stories while relying on an overhead projector for visuals. If that man were anyone else, this program would be a ho-hum affair, but since it's Patrick Reynolds—the grandson of tobacco mogul R.J. Reynolds—this is amazingly effective: drawing on his natural charisma and the weight of his family name, Reynolds delivers a message that is both persuasive and empowering. Going beyond the usual anti-smoking patter to focus on the root causes of teenage smoking—targeted advertising and peer pressure—Reynolds paints tobacco pushers as corporate adults deliberately hoodwinking kids into trying cigarettes or snuff. Talking about positive thinking and motivation, Reynolds acknowledges adolescent fears and desires, and tells his audience bluntly that sure, teen life is painful, but the ongoing struggle shapes character. An accompanying discussion guide offers suggestions for talking with your child (or students) about tobacco use. Highly recommended. [Note: According to the back of the DVD jacket, this is “not licensed for showing in schools,” which would be true for auditorium showings, but not for a face-to-face teaching situation as part of the curriculum in a health class. However, schools can purchase a version with PPR for $75 from www.tobaccofree.org.] Aud: I, J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)