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Peer Pressure in Teenagers Topics..

 
You are here : home > Peer Pressure in Teenagers > Dealing with Peer Pressure > Peer Pressure - How can Parents Help

Peer Pressure - How can Parents Help

Peer Pressure - How can Parents Help

Parents can play a vital role in helping children deal with peer pressure. Read on to know how you can help your child deal with peer pressure.
Parents often get nightmares about how their teenager would be dealing with peer pressure. They are panicked to say the least when they feel that their children fear to get lost in the crowd and they shower them with all sorts of advices. They enforce rules and are dumbstruck to witness them broken before their won eyes and they are not able to do anything despite screaming their lungs out. A lecturing on good judgment is not the way how parents can deal with peer pressure. The most important thing that they can do is to first acknowledge the reality of peer pressure.

Peer Pressure is A Reality in Every Teen’s Life

Most parents tend to ignore it and overlook the impact that peer pressure is likely to render in their kid’s life. This way they alienate themselves from the child’s world and the children end up building a world of their own with their peers. Parents first need to do away with their negative approach towards peer pressure. Peer pressure can be good as well as bad. Peer pressure has its roots in social dynamism and it is in the association with a peer group that the child learns about how to get along with the world. Here are a few ways on how you can help your kid deal with peer pressure:

Be a Compassionate Listener

It is very important for a parent to be a patient listener when your child shares his thoughts with you or comes up with a problem. Hear him out when your kid is upset. It is a very big thing for him to face rejection from his peer group and it is natural for him to feel upset. Try to soothe his nerves and avoid being judgmental. Do not make derogatory comments about his peer group just to please the child’s bruise ego. The role of a parent here ought to be that of a supporting soundboard.

Uphold Your Values

It is the duty of the parents to teach positive values to their kids. And they also need to be aware of the fact that as the kids grow up they are going to test those values. They will be prone to behave in a way that are contrary to your values just because they have perhaps heard from their peers that it is cool to disobey parents’ instructions or smoke a cigarette. You need to be aware of the fact that in spite of all these changes in attitude, you are still the role model for child. They still look up to you moral guidance. So, do not be preachy but practice your values. Your kids will observe and follow suit in due time.

Boost the Child’s Self-Confidence

One who is high on self-confidence finds it easier to deal with peer pressure. So do your bit in helping the child building and developing a sense of self-worth. Teach the child to stand up for himself.

Of course you need to intervene when it is not possible for the kid to handle the situation on his own. But your appreciation of his positive qualities will help the kid in developing his self-esteem. Praising the child for doing the right things also teaches him to be responsible individuals. He will learn that he will be “liked” for what he is and he need not imbibe some foreign attitude just to be accepted or be “cool”.




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Veronica
Veronica.12 years ago
children who have low confidence tend to give into peer pressure easily. Parents can make such kids feel good about themselves; ask for their opinions and show them that they value their views.
 
 
 
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Smith Lodge
Smith Lodge.12 years ago
The first step to helping your child overcome negative peer pressure is to start talking about it.Start talking about your own experiences as a teen and how you handled peer pressure.Tell your child of the consequences if he gives in to negative peer pressure.
 
 
 
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Vanessa
Vanessa.12 years ago
The key to helping your child overcome peer pressure is to talk about it, offer help and always keep the lines of communication available and open between you and your child.
 
 
 
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