PRODUCT WATCH ROUNDUP We’ve added new information to ASH Wales Product Watch about nicotine products that may be less familiar. Pouchless nicotine pods have a UK-facing retail listing: these small oral portions have no outer pouch and are not designed to melt. We’ve also added international examples of ultra-thin and semi-gel nicotine pouches, and updated our page on gels, creams, sprays and nasal inhalers. UK or Welsh availability has not been established for those international examples. These updates explain what the products are, what is verified and what remains uncertain. They do not establish how widely any product is used in Wales.
Nicofiends activity
Copy or Choose?
A playful movement game helping younger children notice the difference between copying someone and making their own choice.
What it explores
Copying others, choosing independently and noticing how each choice feels.
Time
5 to 10 mins
Age
Ages 4 to 7
Setting
Classroom, Youth group, Community setting
Group size
Any group size
Activity at a glance
Best for
Younger children exploring copying, confidence and independent choices through movement.
You’ll need
A clear space where everyone can move safely.
Key message
Sometimes copying is fun. You can still pause and choose what feels right for you.
How to run it
- Ask the young people to stand where they have enough room to move safely.
- Explain that you will perform an action and they should copy you.
- Begin with simple actions such as clapping, waving, jumping, spinning, touching your toes or making a funny face.
- After several rounds, explain the new choice: they can copy your action, choose a different safe action or watch until they feel ready to join in.
- Continue for several more rounds, allowing everyone time to copy, choose or watch.
- Bring the group back together and discuss how the different options felt
Discussion prompts
- Was it fun to copy?
- Was it easy to choose your own action?
- Did you watch what other people chose?
- How did it feel when your choice was different?
- Can you think of a time when making your own choice might help?
- Did you copy, make your own choice or watch?
- Did your choice change during the game?
- Can copying sometimes be a safe and sensible choice
Reflection
Remind children that copying is not good or bad by itself. What matters is noticing what is happening and making a choice that feels safe.
Link To Smoking, Vaping or Nicotine
Leave this field blank. For children aged 4–7, the activity should remain focused on copying, confidence and choice without introducing smoking, vaping, nicotine products or health harms.
Adapting the activity
Make it Easier
Keep the movements simple and practise copying as a whole group before introducing the choice.
Make it Harder
Let participants take turns leading an action. Ask the rest of the group to decide whether to copy the leader or perform an action of their own.
Safety Note
Children can copy, choose their own safe movement or watch. Do not pressure anyone to join in or praise one type of choice more than another. Keep movements suitable for the space and the children taking part.
Ready to Run The Acitvity
Download the activity PDF or go back to the resource hub to find another activity.
Help us improve Nicofiends
Share feedback
Used this activity?
Tell us how it went. It takes about a minute and helps us understand how Nicofiends is being used with young people across Wales.