Exploring Peer Pressure with Your Child

As children grow up, they become more aware of themselves and how others perceive them. It starts at around the age of 9 years old and continues through to adolescence. It can also be described as the desire to “fit in”. Children feel a sense of pressure to conform to social standards and expectations. While these expectations can be positive like where good behaviour and school attainment are concerned, they can also be negative and put children in situations where they struggle to say no. This is where it’s important that you instil confidence in your child so that they can resist peer pressure and make their own decisions. This post is in collaboration with an independent school in London and shares examples of how you can work on this with your child.

Raise a Child That Knows Their Mind

It’s okay to think differently. It’s what makes us unique. Raising your child to feel comfortable in that can give them the confidence to know and speak their own mind. This is something that you can work on by actively pushing them to share and explore their ideas.

Self-Love

Bullies and those that try to make others feel inadequate and employ peer pressure usually target their insecurities. If your child is past them, accepts their flaws and has self-love, there is very little that they can target. They will be confident enough in themselves to resist the need to fit in and will feel empowered to make their own choices.

Role Playing

Many of us find it difficult to say the word no. It can feel awkward and uncomfortable, especially when it comes to using the word to decline friends. You can gear your child up to these situations by role playing them and work on how to say no or get around situations by proposing alternatives.