Teaching Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is something we all come across at some stage in our lives, probably more than once, and even as adults. When we are young and impressionable, it can be difficult to resist peer pressure and sometimes it can get us into trouble, which is why it’s important for parents to educate their children as much as possible. Here’s some advice from a private school in Hampshire.

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Start by chatting to your child about what peer pressure actually is. Have an open and honest conversation with your child about it and even share some of your own experiences of peer pressure and how it affected you. This will make it more relatable for them. After all, you can’t expect them to resist peer pressure if they don’t actually know what it is. Ask them if they can think of any of their own examples, to ensure they understand the concept.

Teach your child that it’s ok to say no. They should never go along with something that makes them uncomfortable or puts them in harm’s way; they shouldn’t be afraid to say no. Give them the confidence to stand up for themselves and voice their own opinions. Help them become better at compromising, as this might be easier for them than saying a direct “no”. For instance, they could say to their friend “I don’t think that’s safe, should we do this instead?”. 

You should also chat with your child about the traits of a “true friend”. Remind them that a true friend would never force them to do something they don’t want to do or encourage them to do something that will get them into trouble or put them at risk. Real friends will accept no as an answer. It might help you to meet your child’s friends and get to know them a little better, to find out if they are a good influence. If you have concerns about this, don’t hesitate to contact the school, as they will be able to help.