As featured on Chicago’s WMBI Morning Radio Program
“A recent poll of 46,000 teens by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America found that dealing with peers is the leading source of stress for kids, ahead of school, relationships and violence.” (Family Circle magazine, January ‘08) So how can you help your child deal with peer pressure?
Teach your child to be an independent thinker. His/Her job is not to control any of her/his peers, but rather to do what s/he knows is best.
Part of teaching your children to make the next right choice is to help them learn how to weigh the pros and cons in a situation. This simple act of thinking prior to a response can go a long way toward making a good decision.
Be certain that your child knows where you have set the boundaries and what the consequences can be in areas where peer pressure might be applied. Then the answer is simple, “My parents have already told me the consequences for doing that and it isn’t worth it to me.” Let them use you, Mom and Dad, as the scapegoat
Encourage your child to develop the ability to speak up for him/herself in other situations (e.g. ordering for him/herself at a restaurant, asking a sales clerk a question) and s/he will be more able to do so in a peer pressure situation. It’s good training and builds confidence.
Remind your child that it is much easier to resist poor peer choices when s/he continually gives the same answer. If s/he waivers once or twice, the pressure will become more intense.
As an adult, model healthy responses to the peer pressure YOU receive.
And most important, give your children a firm foundation at home. This security will help them have a solid, positive sense of self and will protect them from yielding to negative peer pressure.
Blessings,
Kendra
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