Peer pressure happens in all walks of life, but there are a number of ways we can combat the pressure that others put us under. When we’re children we can have a number of pressures around us – such as cheating on a test, skipping homework or bullying other kids at school. But there are also bigger risks like alcohol and smoking that children can fall into.
Here are some ways you can teach your child to resist these urges with the guidance from an independent school in Sussex.
Show them the consequences
The more extreme but surefire way of showing your child what happens if you succumb to peer pressure is by showing them the consequences. There are a number of ways peer pressure can impact a child’s progress in school, or even involving themselves in illegal activity. If they’re aware of these early on, they’re less likely to become involved in friendship groups that endorse these actions.
Study who your child hangs out with
Learn who your child spends their time with and what impact they tend to have on your child. If you’re finding that the group of friends your child is hanging out with is bringing a bad influence into the home, then you should look for ways where your child can meet up with new friendship groups.
Is there a particular interest your child is looking to try out? Maybe this is the best opportunity to nurture a new hobby or activity where they’re meeting new people to make friends with.
Teach your child how to say no
Give your child a handful of excuses to use if they’re feeling overwhelmed in certain situations. Show them that saying no is a full sentence and doesn’t require an explanation after that. It’s a good habit for your child to get into, and you can show them how not succumbing to peer pressure can give them rewards or praise that help them feel valued.
The biggest tip we can give you is to make sure you child knows they can talk to you about the tough topics.