Is your teen struggling with peer pressure? It could be to start a dangerous, unhealthy habit or to join a friendship group that is toxic. Many teenagers have to find a way to deal with this, and you can help them. Here are ways to deal with peer pressure among teenagers.
Signs of Peer Pressure
Before you can help, you need to know that it is going on. Most teenagers won’t come out and admit that they are being pressure by friends to join in with something they don’t like. They won’t say that their friends are bullying them into a decision they don’t feel happy to make. This could be for numerous reasons, including embarrassment and not even feeling like this is peer pressure.
So, you need to know the signs. They include:
- Feeling like they don’t fit in
- Wanting to try new things
- Talking about changes to their image
- Comparing themselves a lot more to others
- Their performance at school changing
Of course, these are also signs of other problems. Cyber bullying is one of them, but this can link in to peer pressure. If you spot these signs, you will need to move on to dealing with it and helping your child as much as possible.
Negative Effects of Peer Pressure
It isn’t just about taking up a dangerous habit. There are many other negative effects of being pressured by those around them. It’s important for you to understand that your child isn’t acting out for the sake of it, but is struggling with the expectations and influences around them.
Some of the negative effects include:
- Depression or anxiety in situations
- A chance in their character
- A sudden change in belief or attitude
- Taking up dangerous habits
- Being reckless in their behavior
- Being more irritable
It can be easy to get annoyed at your teen for this type of behavior or these changes. Remember, they are not completely to blame. You need to help them deal with peer pressure among teenagers.
How Parents Can Help
So, now you know what to look for, it’s time to know how to help. What can you do that will make it easier for your child?
The first thing you can do is help to boost their confidence levels. If they feel like they don’t fit in or want to change their appearance, their confidence levels will drop. Find a way that will help them feel better about themselves, which could include helping them have a better look at body image.
Help your teen find ways to refuse to give in. It could be simple phrases like “drugs are for losers” or “nah, I’m not damaging my health.” These statements make it clear that the pressure is on them for trying something potentially life threatening and they are better than that. It can even make their friends realize what they are doing is bad.
Another option is to help them learn how to avoid situations. This isn’t just about changing friendship groups, but getting out of a situation before they are pressured to do anything. It may mean leaving a party early or deciding to do something different that day. They can also learn the dangers of being left alone with people they don’t know.
Related: What Parents can do to Prevent Underage Alcohol Abuse
You want to do the best for your child, and that includes helping them deal with peer pressure amongst teenagers. Watch out for the signs and help them create answers to the situations thrown at them. They’ll appreciate it when the time comes to using those answers or getting out of the situations.
