As kids get older, peer pressure can get in the way of how kids focus on their education & handle risky behaviour. As children get older, that start caring more and more about what other kids think of them, and less about what their parents or other adults think. Kids who get acceptance from their peers & become more popular will often take part in things like cheating in class, shoplifting, tagging, drugs, alcohol, and sex. Here’s a guide on how to help your child with peer pressure.
DON’T OVERREACT
When your child talks to you about what friends are doing, you may hear things that upset you. If you
overreact or lecture, your child won’t want to bring these issues up again. Stay as calm as you can, with-
out yelling, blaming, of lecturing. Instead, use these moments to get your child thinking about the consequences of risky behaviour: “I wonder if your friend realizes she could be arrested for shoplifting?”
ENCOURAGE A WIDE SOCAIL NETWORK
Children are more likely to have good values if they have friends with similar values and good self-esteem. A lot of people (adult and peers) try to pressure kids to make bad choices. That is why it is important for kids to children to have friends who share the same interests and values as them. If your child has the chance to develop friendships from many sources, including sport, family activities or clubs, it will mean they’ve got plenty of options and sources of support if a friendship goes wrong.
ROLE PLAY PEER PRESSURE
Ask your child what he/she wishes they could say to their friends if they didn’t have to worry about what
they’d say if he/she said “No.” Then suggest ways they can say it. Keep your advice short and to the point.
Remind him/her that it’s easiest to stick with simple things that they can say comfortably.
STAY IN YOUR KIDS’ LIVES
Even though they may not act like it, most children over 12 still listen to their parents. Keep talking to
them—about their interests, accomplishments, & friends; about the music they listen to & about the things that bother them. Let them know you care, but make it clear that you expect them to follow certain rules. And keep planning family activities that include them.
SAY “NO”
When your child hears you setting limits clearly, firmly, & without a lot of explanation, this helps him/her see that it’s OK to do the same. When you say, “No, that’s not okay with me,” you’re giving your child the same language he/she can say when someone tries to talk him/her into doing something they shouldn’t.