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Nicofiends activity

Pressure Postcards

A quick creative activity where children and young people read a postcard from a Nicofiend, spot the pressure trick and decide what they could say, think or do.

What it explores

This activity helps children and young people recognise what pressure can sound like. Each postcard includes a short message from a Nicofiend. Young people then create a response that could help someone pause, question the message and make their own choice.
Time
10 to 15 mins
Age
Ages 11 to 16
Setting
Classroom, Youth group, Community setting, At home
Group size
Individual, pairs or small groups

Activity at a glance

Best for

Spotting pressure, practising responses and starting safer conversations.

You’ll need

Printable Pressure Postcards, pens, pencils or colouring materials.

Key message

Pressure is easier to handle when you have thought about what you could say or do.

How to run it

  • Give each young person, pair or small group a Pressure Postcard.
  • Ask them to read the postcard carefully and talk about what the Nicofiend is trying to do.
  • Use the prompt “Spot the trick” to help them identify the pressure. For example, the Nicofiend might be trying to make something sound harmless, make someone feel awkward for saying no, rush a choice or make it seem like everyone else is doing it.
  • Then ask them to complete the second prompt: “What could you say, think or do?”
  • Encourage realistic responses. These do not need to be perfect. They might be something someone could say out loud, something they could think to themselves, or an action they could take to move away from the pressure.
  • Invite a few volunteers to share their ideas if they want to.
  • Finish by linking the activity back to real life. Explain that pressure does not always look obvious. It can show up through jokes, group behaviour, curiosity, messages online or someone trying to make a risky choice sound normal.

Discussion prompts

  • What was the Nicofiend trying to make the person do?
  • What pressure trick was being used?
  • Did the message sound funny, pushy or awkward?
  • What response felt realistic?
  • What could someone do if they did not want to say anything out loud?
  • Where might pressure like this show up in real life?

Reflection

Pressure is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it sounds funny, casual or confident.

This activity helps children and young people notice those tricks, pause, and think about what they could do next.

Download printable materials

Link To Smoking, Vaping or Nicotine

The postcards use silly made up situations, but the pressure tricks are real.

Young people may come across similar pressure around smoking, vaping or nicotine. Someone might make it sound harmless, say everyone else is doing it, turn it into a joke, or make someone feel awkward for saying no.

This activity helps children and young people spot those patterns earlier and think more clearly about their own choices.

Adapting the activity

Make it Easier

Work in pairs or small groups and complete one postcard together. Talk through the pressure trick first, then agree one response as a group.

Make it Harder

Ask young people to write three responses: one thing they could say, one thing they could think, and one thing they could do

Safety Note

Keep the conversation general and scenario based. Do not ask children or young people to share personal or family experiences of smoking, vaping or nicotine. Follow your setting’s safeguarding process if a young person raises a concern.

Ready to Run The Acitvity

Download the activity PDF or go back to the resource hub to find another activity.

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