16 November, 2015
Peer pressure is a real concern for parents, and it should be. Many teens say that if pressured by friends, they would do something they wouldn’t normally do.
To help your teen withstand peer pressure and do the “right” thing, you can:
°Listen compassionately without judging. When teens get picked on, they need to vent their feelings without being put down or told the episode isn’t worth getting upset about.
°Don’t back down on your values. When peers insist it’s cool to smoke or be disrespectful of adults, your teen is likely to test these behaviors and attitudes on you. Reinforcing your values—through your words and deeds—provides your teen the continued moral guidance he needs.
°Encourage him to stand up for himself. When there’s a problem with a peer, don’t rush in to fix it. Help your teen figure out how to handle the problem himself.
°Encourage his self-esteem. If someone puts your teen down, acknowledge his hurt feelings. But then urge him to evaluate the situation beyond his feelings. You might say, “I know what they said hurts. But do you really admire those boys? Do you think you can trust them to be good friends when times are tough?”
°Praise your teen for doing the right thing. Say things like, “Going against the crowd takes guts. I’m proud of you.”
brought to you by
Hopkinton Middle School
