5. Conclusions
Most children in participating smoking families were exposed to tobacco smoke regardless of whether the parents restricted smoking to a balcony, to designated indoor places such as “in the window,” or to the yard. To protect children from tobacco smoke in the Israeli setting, indoor home porches and outdoor porches that are small and adjacent to indoor living areas, or enclosed or partially enclosed, should be considered part of the home environment and subject to full smoking bans. Full protection of children from the damaging effects of tobacco smoke exposure is likely dependent on reducing smoking prevalence among parents in particular and society as a whole and on complete denormalization of smoking around others, especially vulnerable populations such as children.