In teaching your child about confidence, resilience and being an effective problem solver will eventually reach the discussion of peer pressure. Especially when your child is old enough to make their own decisions, peer pressure can feel much more attractive to them.

This is where you come in and show them the benefits of resisting these moments and learning to say no. Here are some top tips you can explore with your child.

Give your child reasons why peer pressure is bad

The consequences are going to show your child why peer pressure can be bad. Not all forms of peer pressure result in serious consequences. For example, your child could be motivated to try out a new hobby with friends, but on the flip side, someone pushing your child to skip a school lesson can start a slippery slope.

Giving your child examples of what could happen can remind them of what’s at stake if they fall for peer pressure. The consequences have the potential to show your child that what they did can’t happen again, in extreme circumstances.

Talk to teachers

A teacher is going to have a lot more time seeing your child grow intellectually throughout the years. They can also indicate if a child is falling behind, or if there’s a sudden change of behaviour from your child. Almost all pre-prep and prep schools, as well as primary and secondary schools, will be trained to help children navigate these situations.

They can also help you with your child’s development in navigating difficult situations from different scenarios. Give your child the reassurance that you’re there to listen to them and there are ways to refuse to go through with something they’re not comfortable with.

Get to know your child’s friends

Knowing who your child spends their time with at school really helps you gauge what your child might need help with in the future. If you find that your child has friends that are keen to push them to do risky things, then it’s time to show your child how to stand up for themselves. The more you feel involved in your child’s decisions the more they’ll gain confidence in saying no and resisting peer pressure.

When it comes to peer pressure there are a lot of different ways you can manage your child’s expectations. Give your child the right tools to know how to reject peer pressure, identify risks and overcome those difficult decisions.