Peer pressure isn’t an easy social force to ignore as it even affects adults. Teaching your child how to resist peer pressure can help them to avoid making mistakes and stop them from compromising their safety. We have teamed up with an independent school in Bristol to share ways that you can teach your child to resist peer pressure.
Saying NO
Saying no can be a little awkward, uncomfortable even when saying it to those that are supposed to be your friends. This can make resisting peer pressure one of the hardest things to do. Teaching your child how to say no can help them to tackle this obstacle and walk away from anything that they don’t want to engage in.
How to Recognise a Bad Friend
The unfortunate truth is that not everyone that your child will come across will be nice and some will disguise themselves as their friends. Teaching them how to tell a good friend from a bad one can help them to make wiser decisions when making friends. When something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t and teaching your child to listen to their instincts can help them to do this.
Talk About Consequences
We’ve all heard of the cliff analogy that parents and teachers love to use, and it raises a serious question. How far should you go for your friends? Talking about the consequences of actions such as smoking and skipping class can help your child to reflect on their decisions and how they might affect them. This can also help them to identify situations to avoid and raise alarm bells if they happen to be in a similar predicament.
Self-Love
Peer pressure comes from a desire to fit in, be accepted and validated by others. Raising your child to have self-love and confidence can help them to say no when they feel pressured to do something that they don’t agree with. This is something that you can do by reminding them of their strengths and qualities so that others can’t find insecurities to exploit.
Seeking Help
Having a supportive relationship with your child where they know that you’re there, can help them to come to you if they’re having trouble at school or are bothered by anything. This can give you the opportunity to intervene and help where it’s needed.
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs, including Wannabe Princess and Under 5s. Specializing in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and early years development,