How to Help Teens With Peer Pressure
Dealing with peer pressure is a part of everyday life for teenagers. The average teen faces peer pressure over a number of issues, such as fashion, smoking, sex or illegal activities, such as shoplifting, says Teens Health. As your child gets older and starts to pull away from the family nest, he becomes more susceptible to the influence of his peer group. Since teens want to be accepted and liked by their peers, they often put pressure on themselves to try things they think their friends are doing, such as experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Their friends may not even doing these things, and peer pressure is largely self-imposed. As a parent, you can help your teen make smarter and healthier choices.
Instructions
Set a positive example. Don't engage in the behaviors that you want your child to avoid. If you don't want your teen to smoke, stop smoking. If you want him to practice defensive driving, don't drive like a madman. Teens needs to see parents as healthy role models who practice good self-care, says Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine at the Children̵7;s Hospital of Philadelphia, in an interview with Washington Parent. Avoid criticizing your teen's choices and behaviors. In an article for Empowering Parents, parenting expert and social worker James Lehman reminds parents that resisting parental authority and taking an opposing view to almost all of your opinions is a part of normal adolescence. Even though you mean well, the more you criticize or put down your teen's choices, the more he'll resist you and your efforts to help. Spend quality time with your teen. Your teen wants and needs quality conversation-time with you, even if he acts like he doesn't, says Dr. Ginsburg. Sharing meaningful moments with your teen shows your love and support, which can help fortify him against the negative effects of peer pressure. Establish rules and consequences for negative behaviors. Your teen wants -- and needs -- you to set limits, according to the University of Illinois Extension Family Works. Discuss the consequences with your teen in advance so that he knows what will happen if he breaks the rules. For example, if your teen decides to succumb to peer pressure and stay out past curfew, then he won't be using the family car over the weekend. Reward positive behaviors and decisions. Just as you set consequences for negative behaviors, you should also provide positive reinforcement for good choices and decisions. For example, if your teen adheres to curfew for a month, reward him with more freedom by making curfew 30 minutes later. If your teen knows that he'll be rewarded for making smart choices, he may be more likely to resist peer pressure, whether internal or real, to engage in negative behaviors. Manage your own feelings of anxiety about your teen and peer pressure. It's normal to worry, but sometimes, you might be working yourself up over nothing. If you've educated your teen properly and you have faith in her decision-making abilities, try to loosen the reins a bit. The tighter you hold on, the more he'll try to pull away. Find a group of like-minded parents with whom you can discuss your fears and worries, advises Dr. Ginsburg. Look for older parents who have successfully dealt with the teen years. They can provide advice and reassurance.