It’s the age-old parenting conundrum: should you bring up tricky topics with your child or wait for them to come to you? There is also the consideration over when is the right age to broach certain subjects, and concern whether some are too “adult” for young minds to process.

With shops selling vapes in most malls and the addictive habit often marketed as a “lifestyle”, plus packaging and flavours that appeal to a younger demographic, vaping has become a major cause of concern for parents.

The 2025 ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey on vaping in the UK found that 20 per cent of 11–17-year-olds have tried vaping – about 1.1 million children. For the first time this year, the World Health Organisation estimated global e-cigarette use, finding that at least 15 million children between 13 and 15 years of age were using e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, a survey among university students across Arab countries found that neatly four in 10 university students in the UAE use vapes – the highest figure among the countries analysed.

Should parents bring up vaping or wait for their children to?

“Don’t wait,” says Christopher Seeley, principal at Dove Green Private School in Dubai, and a father of two. “If you wait, you’re already a step behind. Children today are smart, connected and curious – they know far more than we think, and silence can look like permission.

“You don’t need a big, dramatic sit-down talk; just keep it honest and open,” Seeley adds. “Treat it like any other conversation that shows curiosity is OK, but there’s a line between knowing about something and trying it.”

Along with more traditional conversations centred around growing up, such as relationships and puberty, today’s parents must also navigate subjects previous generations of mums and dads didn’t need to consider, such as social media and online safety.

Addressing peer pressure is important when speaking to teens about cultivating positive habits. Getty Images

While smoking is not a new concern for parents, vaping with its colourful packaging and fruity flavours is un