Ideally, parents who smoke could provide a great example to their children by quitting themselves. But even parents who continue to smoke can effectively educate their children about the dangers of smoking, the Arizona Republic reported Jan. 25.

Researchers found that smoking parents who were instructed on teaching their children antismoking socialization skills could still effectively lower the odds of their kids trying cigarettes by the 6th grade. Tactics included countering pro-smoking messages, maintaining a smoke-free or low-smoke home, and reinforcing the child's pledge to abstain from tobacco use.

"Parents need to remember they're still the most influential person in their child's life, even over their peers," said Laurie Thomas, marketing manager at the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program. "So you can still tell them why you're smoking, why you can't stop, and how you wish you hadn't started."

Parent Layne Covert, a longtime smokeless tobacco user, said his antismoking messages had an impact on his son during grade school and middle school. But at age 16 his son began chewing tobacco, prompting Covert to quit; his son has now given up the habit, as well.

The study was published in the January 2006 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.