Introducing and Discussing Peer Pressure to Your Children and How it Can Result in Negative Consequences

peer pressure bad influence Negative Peer Pressure

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Aug 18, 12:06 pm

Children can receive pressure from nearly everyone but the common one is peer pressure or the pressure children got from their friends. This kind of pressure affects the decision-making process of a child.

It can be with clothes to wear, choice of music, and social behaviors. These are one of the many things friends can imply influence a child. Parents, on the other hand, must discuss such things with their children, especially on how to handle and respond to pressures.

Although peer pressure is not always a bad thing, it can still affect the approach of a child towards life and their perspective. The way a child responds to such pressure can identify or describe them for who they are as an individual in society. Natural leaders declined the concept of bad peer pressure whereas the followers will just go along with it.

According to Very Well Family, this kind of pressure can range from subtle to overt which only means that there are types of peer pressure that can be easily spotted compared to others. If parents can identify the signs of peer pressure in their child then it will gradually lead to a supportive conversation.

Carefully explain the consequences of peer pressure

Parents cannot always control their children, therefore, educate them on the possible and negative consequences of peer pressure. Children can experience this form of pressure, especially the teenage ones, and when they feel pressured, they would be tempted to drive recklessly, have sex, and try other habits that can eventually turn into an addiction.

The best protection and shield to say is the art of saying NO. Explain to your child that they can stay away from bad influences and allow them to understand the risks of taking or tolerating bad peer pressure. Kids need to have confidence when making a certain decision, thus, discuss to them that they can get feedback from their friends but label it as feedback and do not let such comments influence your child's decision.

Parents and adults must compliment them when they make food decisions as it will lead to confidence. Children without identity usually feel that they need to rebel for them to know themselves, such emotions are usually from the influence of their friends, therefore, always remind your child that they are loved.

According to Stanford Medicine Children's Health, the child has to be self-controlled, what parents can only do is the guide and support them. Explain to them everything so they don't ask their bad influence friends regarding a certain matter.

Establishing confidence in kids

As kids grow up, they will feel shyer when opening things up to their parents. Hence, parents must ensure that their mental health is healthy and stable for them not to get swayed by peer pressure, especially the bad ones.

According to Reach Out, both parents and children need to understand and remember that peer influence is a normal transition to adolescence. As the child starts to move away from the parent-child relationship, they would treat their friends more important and in terms of such, parents must understand the childhood to adolescent transition.