Teaching Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure

Peer pressure – the problem that’s been around as long as teenagers have. Though it’s important to note that younger children can certainly fall prey to the downside of peer pressure too, it’s when the teenage years come around that the stakes are higher.

The teenage years are difficult for a variety of reasons. Hormones run rampant, fears of not fitting in or belonging haunt many young people. They want so badly to belong that it can be easy for them to fall into bad habits. Schools play a big part in ensuring that teens don’t fall into any bad habits via peer pressure.

Good schools have counsellors and support staff who are there to help children over those rocky parts of life. This senior school in Surrey prides itself on its excellent pastoral care and it’s strong, caring systems such as this which make all the difference to teenagers when they need guidance.

Trying to impress the wrong people

This is where peer pressure can cause problems. The idea that your child must behave a certain way in order to be accepted is where things can get toxic.

It’s vital that you keep a close eye on your teens and who their friends are. During secondary school it’s quite normal for teens to branch out of their usual social groups and make new friends.

Ensure that your teens invite these friends to your home so that you can get to know them. If you’re aware of who they’re spending time with then you should also have a good idea of what is important to them.

Teaching your child to stay true to their own personality

If your child is generally sensible and well behaved, you must have done something right. Keep an open dialogue with them so that you can be aware of any insecurities or worries they might have. And always encourage them to stick to their own set of moral values.

Hobbies help

Sports, dance, drama – whatever it is, ensure that your child keeps to their hobbies. A busy child who is engaged in their regular pastimes is more likely to want to impress the friends who are also engaged in those things. Peer pressure can be a positive thing when it’s based around the need or desire to perform well!

Tell your child to ask themselves three questions before doing anything they suspect you might not approve of.

• Will this choice improve my life in any way?
• Would my parents approve of this choice?
• Will this action have a negative effect on anyone else?

Asking these questions should serve to remind your child of the right path to take. Let them know that they can confide in you at any time and you won’t get angry if they do something which isn’t sensible.

It’s far better to have them trust you enough to confide than to rule by fear. Fear leads to secrets and a secretive teen is also a lonely teen.

This is a collaborative post.