Peer Pressure

From TeenHealthCentre.com

Peer Pressure
Peer Pressure
By
Nov 9, 2004, 16:25

Peer Pressure

What is Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure is the pressure, stress or strain people feel from friends and classmates to act, behave, think and look a certain way. This kind of pressure can cover everything from fashion through to sex and dating. Peer pressure can be either negative, where someone is coerced into doing something that they know is negative (e.g. drugs, smoking, or pressure to have sex) or positive – for example, a teen whose friends are all high achievers in school will feel pressure to also be successful. For the purpose of this article, we will be talking only about negative peer pressure.

Who is Affected By Peer Pressure?

Anyone can be affected by peer pressure; however, teens with low-self esteem are most likely to fall victim to negative peer pressure.

What Can I Do To Help My Child Resist Peer Pressure?

There are several things you as a parent can do to help your child make more positive choices. Encouraging your child’s self-esteem and independence will help them be more of a leader than a follower. Reassure them that they are smart, worth while people who are loved unconditionally. Commonly, teens follow the crowd in attempts to fit in with their peers. Encourage them to form relationships with those friends who can offer them a positive environment where they can express their individuality without pressure to conform or compromise their ideals. These friends might encourage your teen to try new things and take risks too, like trying a new sport or taking up a musical instrument.

Addressing problems such as low social skills or aggressive tendencies before adolescence – will decrease the chances of you teen joining anti-social peer groups that will reinforce their problem behaviour.

The key is finding a way to guide your child towards positive friendships, while allowing them to find their own way socially. Some things capregboces.org suggest are:

Set up opportunities to connect with your kids – this is a good way to find out what they are thinking about an what’s happening in their lives outside the home
Nurture your children’s interest in new endeavours
Encourage your children to invite their friends home – having your kids friends at your home can offer you the opportunity to know who your children hang out with and the chance to supervise their activities
Follow up – if your child tells you s/he is going to a friend’s house after school, make a call to find out if your child has arrived

Some Advice You Can Give Your Kids

There might come a time that your child will become the subject of peer pressure and come to you for help. Some of the things you can tell them include:

Pay attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong
Have friends with similar values who back you up when you don’t want to do something
Avoid people who pressure you to do things you don’t want to, if you don’t go near them they can’t pressure you
Remember to stand your ground and do what you know is right

Where Can You Go For Help?

If your teen is having problems with peer pressure and you feel like they need more help you might consider contacting their school counselor. Since most peer pressure happens at the school they should be aware of the problem. You might also want to contact The Teen Health Centre (THC). THC can offer one on one counseling or get your teen involved in the “Becoming Your Best” program (for teens 12-15) to help your child develop their self-esteem and coping strategies.

The following websites can give you some ideas on how to help your child handle peer pressure effectively – it’s a good idea to try talking to your child about peer pressure before involving the school or THC. You are your child’s best resource for developing a positive self-image.

Like It Is (For Teens)
http://www.likeitis.org.uk/welcome_to_like_it_is.html

Adolescence and Peer Pressure
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/family/nf211.htm

Dealing With Peer Pressure
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/peer_pressure.html

The Ins and Outs of Peer Pressure
http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/peerpressure.html

Secrets to Help Your Kids Handle Peer Pressure
http://bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=7297

Helping Your Child Form Positive Friendships
http://www.capregboces.org/

Handling Peer Pressure – How To Reduce The Negative Peer Pressure
http://family.go.com/

Parents Have Peer Pressure Too
http://www.littlecomptonschools.com/

Helping Kids Cope With Peer Pressure
http://parentteacher.aadac.com/parent_articles/kids_cope.asp