How to Help Your Children Avoid Peer-pressure and Making Bad Choices

Children are faced with dangerous choices that can alter the course of their lives completely. It’s up to us as parents to help them make the right decisions. We have to provide them with the tools to face and overcome any challenge. Make sure your child is prepared. The decisions children make when faced with bad choices are too important to leave to chance.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Talk to your child openly and honestly about everything. If your child comes to you with a question, explain exactly what will happen to him. Being honest with him and explaining the consequences of his actions will help him make the right decisions. It’s better to leave him a little afraid than have him try some new drug that his friends are telling him about because he thinks it isn’t dangerous. A little fear won’t hurt him, and might just save his life.

2. Give him information about drug use and drinking and driving. If he sees the deadly outcome that other people have faced when doing these activities, he will think twice about doing them himself.

3. Show him pictures of the affects of sexually transmitted diseases. Seeing pictures of people with the actual diseases will make it more real for your child. Pictures really are worth a thousand words in this instance. Talk with him about the importance of safe sex. You can stress abstinence if you wish, but be sure he knows what to do if he isn’t abstinent.

4. Encourage good behavior and activities. If your child wants to take part in a certain sport or activity, take an interest and help him join if possible. Giving a child something productive to do that is good for him will keep him from wanting to do the bad or dangerous things. If he’s busy doing something he loves, he won’t want to do anything to ruin it.

5. Meet and get to know your child’s friends. It is very important that you know the people your children are hanging around with. You should talk to them and learn about their interests. Meeting their parents is a good idea also. If you have a bad feeling about someone your child wants to be friends with, take it seriously. Keep a close eye on the relationship to make sure everything is good.

6. Build your child’s self esteem. Children with high self esteem are less likely to be easily swayed. They are sure of themselves and don’t need outside influences to boost them up.

7. Be a good and involved parent. Taking part in your child’s life and guiding him is what will help him avoid peer-pressure and making bad choices.