How to Prevent Peer Pressure

Help your children or students avoid peer pressure.

Life is not easy for teenagers. The various tribulations they face, commonly referred to as "growing pains," can make their lives confusing and difficult. Few people escape the negative effects of peer pressure at some point in life. Preteens and teens, in particular, are susceptible to the harmful effects of peer pressure because of their intense desire to fit in and be accepted by others. Equipping children and teens to face peer pressure will help ensure their safety as they progress toward adulthood.

Instructions

1. Talk to children and teens about peer pressure. Peer pressure is something that virtually every adult has experienced, which means you can help younger people in dealing with the effects of peer pressure. Use resources that young people will relate to, such as a video of a celebrity or sports hero talking about peer pressure or relating a personal experience and explaining how best to handle this type of situation.

2. Encourage a sense of pride and respect for "self." If your child or teen has creative outlets, for example, he will be less likely to go along with the crowd when the situation contradicts his core values and sense of self. Whether he is learning how to play the guitar or becoming an accomplished sailor on the weekends with dad, the more a young person understands that he is unique, the less he will go along with someone else's ideas of who he should be.

3. Talk to children and teens about the risks associated with engaging in risky behavior. Young people are often naive and susceptible to the influences of others. They do not always recognize the negative consequences of a situation. More importantly, teens have less life experience than adults and, thus, are not always cognizant of the motivations of others. Guide teens in learning how to gauge risky situations and act accordingly in their own best interests.

4. Practice peer pressure scenarios at home or in the classroom. Allow the teens to suggest ways to handle the peer pressure presented in each scenario. Finally, provide strategies they can use when facing similar situations. Help them develop coping skills to deal with the reactions of their peers, who may shun them for going against the crowd.

References

• Keep Kids Healthy: Peer Pressure