Researchers studied the behavior of 120 children ages 2 to 6 who were told to choose from 133 items to get a Barbie doll ready for a night on the town. The study demonstrated that preschoolers whose parents smoked were more likely to choose cigarettes as part of the ensemble, while those whose parents drank were more likely to choose wine or beer. Moreover, children who watched R or PG-13 movies at home were five times more likely to choose alcohol.

Overall, 28 percent of the children chose cigarettes, and 61 percent chose alcohol. Those whose parents smoked were about four times more likely to pick out cigarettes, while those whose parents drank monthly or more frequently were three times more likely to choose alcohol.

Study participants were mostly white, and their parents were mostly college-educated. Study co-author Madeline Dalton of Dartmouth Medical School said parents who watched the study through a two-way mirror were often shocked at their children's actions. "It's a very humbling experience to be a parent and see your children mimic your behaviors," she said.

The study was published in the September 2005 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

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