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Many parents worry about the negative impacts of peer pressure on their children. Peer pressure is when your child feels like they have to do something just because all of their friends are doing it, or when others try to influence their decisions or actions.
We all understand the need to fit in and belong. However, this is especially important for children because they want to feel liked and popular at school instead of rejected and criticised.
To help your child avoid peer pressure and feel confident to stand up for themselves, here is some advice from Dunottar School
Awareness
To help your child fight back against peer pressure, they will need to be able to spot when it is happening. Talk to your child about certain situations where they may experience peer pressure and role play some examples. Teach your child to be sensible and confident in their decision making and reassure them that they can always talk to you if they feel worried.
Saying NO
It is important that your child feels confident enough to say ‘no’ when something makes them feel uncomfortable. It can be extremely hard for your child to say no to their friends, but it is important to explain that true friends will not pressure them to do something they are unhappy to do. You could teach your child to offer an alternative suggestion in response to peer pressure. For example if they feel that an activity is unsafe, they could try suggesting another fun option.
Friendships
Get to know your child’s friends and encourage your child to invite them to your home. Spend time getting to know your child’s friends and their families. If your child seems reluctant for you to meet a certain school friend, you could always ask their teacher for advice. They will be able to keep an eye on your child and look out for any signs of bullying.
It can also help to encourage your child to take up extra-curricular activities and build many social circles. Having friends in different settings will reduce the stress of trying to fit in with just one friendship group.
Be yourself
Finally, teach your child to be accepting of other people and to be proud of their own individuality. This will help them to feel less worried by peer pressure. Peer pressure works by making an individual feel wrong or unaccepted for not following along. Explain to your child that we do not all need to be the same, or do the same things in order to fit in.
