Q. My son has taken up smoking. I cannot believe it! What do I do? He is only smoking cigarettes. I found one in his shirt pocket and he is 16 years of age! Help! Why is he doing this?

AYour son may be smoking because of peer pressure, or he has been bombarded with media images that say it is ok to do this. Also, he may have just made a choice as he thinks it is OK to do this. Talk with him about the health risks that accompany this bad habit. If he is not listening to you, take him to a responsible adult whom he respects, or a counsellor or a psychologist. Please take him for a medical check-up also to ensure that he has not been harmed so far by the cigarette smoking and that he doesn't have any other health problem.

Q. The guidance counsellor at my daughter's high school wants her to participate in group counselling. I do not mind my child getting counselling but I do not want others to know her business. Can I say no to this?

A You have the right to say yes or no. What you need to do is to find out what the group counselling sessions will be about. Group counselling can teach preventive, remedial or growth-oriented skills. Some of the many topics that may be covered in group counselling are learning how to share with others, coping with a particular type of stressor or managing anger. The topics that can be looked at in group counselling can be educational, social, career oriented or personal. Meet with the counsellor and learn more about the issue at hand.

Q. Why is it that my six and seven-year-old children play so much? They play at church, school and at home with other children their age. Just following after them makes me tired. What can I do?

AThe fact that your children play and seem to be having fun doing it suggests that they are happy children. Children mostly play with others their age because they have a lot in common. They watch the same TV shows and they are learning the same things in school and church. You can organise sit-down educational games so they mix physical and educational activities. You can also go to the local library and help them get books that they can read to each other and to friends. They can also join their local church and community groups such as brownies, scouts and adventurers.

Orlean Brown-Earle, PhD, is a child psychologist and family therapist. Dr Brown-Earle works with children with learning and behaviour problems throughout the island and in the Caribbean. Email questions to helpline@gleanerjm.com or send to Ask the Doc, c/o The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston. <