Sunday, March 1 -"Raven's Home" Anti-vaping Episode

Disney Channel's hit series "Raven's Home" will spotlight the risks associated with vaping among youth in a topical episode that's especially relevant to kids age 6-14 and their families,  tonight Sunday, March 1 (8pm ET/PT) on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.  A special message from the cast will follow the episode on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube.

This episode is an opportunity for kids and families to have an open and honest conversation about this important topic. 

Top 3 Ways to Start a Conversation with Your Child About Vaping

The latest episode of "Raven's Home" spotlights the risks of vaping for youth.  Geared towards kids and teens age 6-14, an additional pro-social message about the risks associated with vaping, including the addictive, toxic qualities of nicotine, follows the episode's premiere, SUNDAY, MARCH 1 (8:00pm ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube.

In the special episode, entitled "What About Your Friends," Booker's new friends pressure him to try vaping, but he turns them down and warns them about the dangers. They don't listen and when Coach Spitz finds a vape pen, the boys all claim it belongs to Booker and he is suspended. While a disappointed Raven seeks to understand what's going on with her son, Booker sets out to clear his name.

Geared for kids 6-14, the episode also touches on peer pressure and the importance of being honest with your parents. Young viewers will also learn valuable friendship lessons – how your friends' bad decisions can negatively impact you (a lesson Raven tries to impart to Booker at the first sign of trouble); real friends don't tell lies about you and they stand up for you, no matter what.

Disney Channel has a legacy for presenting relevant, "navigational stories" for kids and families that can make a positive impact, while also encouraging conversations between kids and their parents. 

The episode and pro-social message were developed under the consultancy of Hollywood, Health & Society, who brought in experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USC, among others.

To help keep the conversation going beyond this episode, we've included the Top 3 Ways to Start a Conversation with Your Child About Vaping, provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Family Checkup and the Surgeon General's Talk With Your Teens About E-Cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents.

3 Ways to Start the Conversation with Your Child About the Risks of Teen Vaping.

**Excerpts from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Family Checkup and the Surgeon General's Talk With Your Teens About E-Cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents resource.**

• Before you start the conversation, make you sure you have the facts about vaping so you can speak calmly and confidently from a place of knowledge.

• Find the right moment.  A more natural discussion will increase the likelihood that your teen will listen. Rather than saying “we need to talk,” you might ask your teen what he or she thinks about a situation you witness together.

• Reduce Emotion – Sometimes talking with children brings up strong feelings that interfere with clear thinking. Following the CALM steps can help a parent keep the conversation moving in the right direction.

• C – Control your thoughts & actions. 
• A – Assess & decide if you are too upset to continue 
• L – Leave the situation if you are feeling too angry/upset 
• M – Make a plan to deal with the situation