Teens and Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is not a new concept or social behavior. Despite what most people think, peer pressure is not limited to childhood or to ones high school experience. Peer pressure is part of the social experience of life. How one reacts to peer pressure is the determining factor. Teen are most susceptible to peer pressure in their middle school and high school years, and it is considered critical because often the bad decisions made by teens can affect the rest of their lives. So how does one combat peer pressure?

Avoiding Peer Pressure

Peer pressure comes from those with whom we associate with and with whom we spend our time. By choosing good friends and associates, we surround ourselves with people who not only share our values and moral outlook, but also we are surrounded by people who care about us and want us to make good decisions and ultimately be happy. So, then, for the most part, we can choose to avoid bad pressure. True, teens will always face peer pressure; it is simply part of life. However, good friends will limit the exposure to negative peer pressure among their teen peers.

Responsibility Of Parents

Of course before teens can choose the right friends, they must understand what acceptable behavior is. Parents must teach their children their moral standards. These standards are not taught aggressively by educators and so teens will either develop their moral character based upon what they are taught either at home by parents or by their peers and the media that they view and listen to. There is no substitute for the role of parents in teaching their teen what their stand should be in relation to drugs, sex, alcohol, and other harmful practices and behaviors. It is the parents responsibility, period.

No matter what the situation, parents and teens should create a plan for how a teen will handle peer pressure before they are faced with it. They must decide well in advance what they will say and what they will do if it arises. By planning ahead, teens will have the confidence to just say no and will not have to second guess themselves no matter how much pressure is applied by their peers.

Recipe For Success

Ultimately, we understand that teens face peer pressure. It is simply part of everyday life and the learning and growing process that teens must experience. However, by choosing friends that share their values and having parents teach them while in their youth, teens will not only have a fighting chance, but will become the example and leaders among their peers.