Teaching Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure

Teaching your child to resist peer pressure

Cambridge Dictionary Definition –

The strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everyone else does: There is tremendous peer pressure to wear fashionable clothes.

As a parent, one of the concerns we have about our children growing up is the peer pressure they may face at school. Peer pressure is when your child is made to feel like they have to do something by their friends even if they do not want to do.

Peer pressure is common in adolescence, so it is important for parents to make their children aware of the signs and teach them how to deal with it.

Here is some great advice on how to help your child resist peer pressure from an independent school for boys in London…

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Understanding peer pressure

To help your child understand peer pressure, it can help to role play certain situations where they may experience it. You could even share your own personal experiences of peer pressure. Teach your child to be confident in their decision making and encourage your child to talk to you if someone is upsetting them.

Standing up to peer pressure

It is important that your child can say ‘no’ when something makes them feel uncomfortable. This can be hard to say to their friends; however it is important to explain that true friends will never pressure them to do something they do not want to. Teach your child various responses to peer pressure. For example, if they feel that an activity is dangerous, they could suggest a fun but safe alternative.

Friendship groups

Learn about your child’s friendship groups and encourage your child to invite their friends to your home. Spend time talking to your child about their relationships at school, as this may give you an idea of who is a bad influence. If possible get to know the other parents as this will help you to provide a safe environment for your child.

Request More Time

If you have more time to think about it you might decide not to do it. Peers sometimes try to force you into making a split-second choice, taking time to talk it out or even think on your own may slow things down enough to avoid just jumping into a bad situation just because you didn’t know what else to do.

Find Alternative Activities

Extracurricular activities also tend to have schedules and guidelines that don’t give you much time to get into trouble and encourage other positive influences.

Fitting in

Finally, help your child to resist peer pressure by being proud of who they are and celebrating diversity. Peer pressure works by making an individual feel wrong or unaccepted for not following the crowd and ‘fitting in’. Explain to your child that everyone is different and life would be very dull if we were all the same.

I think it’s safe to say we can all relate to peer pressure in childhood as well as adulthood. I hope that by discussing this topic you’ve been given some food for thought for teaching your own child to resist peer pressure that isn’t healthy behaviour or quashes their own individuality.