The Role of parents in dealing with Peer Pressure and Bad Company
Raju was introduced to smoking at the age of 7 when one of his friends told him to just try it out for fun, because he would forget all the problems that he had at home. Raju knew it was bad to smoke but the offer seemed tempting and Raju began with a small puff, but he forgot about his small slum house, his ill father, his nagging life seemed nice. He grew up to be a chain smoker at the age of 15 thanks to his so called friend Birju. Peer pressure takes place when a child does something he or she is not comfortable doing but still does as a result of being pressured by peers. Manas was taken to a birthday party by his so called friends, one of them drugged his coke and the next thing that he knew was that he had a blackout and was transported into a world of ecstasy.
The next thing he knew was that he was begging his friends for some more drink. He knew their mother and was something different in the drink but didn’t know what. All that he knew was that there was something in that drink that had given him a lot of pleasure and he liked the feel of it. His life was now in his ‘friend ‘hands. They knew what he wanted and now knew how much they could extract from him for that feeling once again and maybe all his life. While parents can’t protect their children from experiencing peer pressure, there are steps they can take to minimize its effects. Children may also choose bad companions for the excitement that accompanies getting into trouble, to rebel against parents, or because they suffer from low self-esteem and/or little self-confidence. Peer pressure is a part of almost all children’s lives. All children experience peer pressure and give in to it at one time or another.
Be close to your children: Children who have close relationships with their parents are also much more likely to come to their parents when they are in trouble or are having problems. Children who spend a lot of quality time with their families are less likely to give in to peer pressure
A practical view of peer pressure: Children will be much better able to stand up to peer pressure and the suggestions of bad companions if they have an understanding of the feelings involved with peer pressure, they are much less likely to give in to it.
Parents should encourage a variety of friends: Parents should make an effort to spend time with their children’s friends and their parents to get to know them. Parents should encourage their children to develop and maintain friendships with children who have positive qualities
Supervise your child’s activities: When children are at home, parents should supervise their activities. When children are not at home, parents should make an effort to know where their children are, who they are with, and what they are doing
Avoid criticizing your child’s friends who are a bad influence, as they might become defensive and will continue to see such friends out of a sense of loyalty or to rebel against their parents
Do not allow your child to spend time with the group or friend with whom he or she got into trouble, or the child should be made to apologize or confess and make up for the wrong he or she has done
If a child is consistently giving in to peer pressure, or chronically getting into trouble with bad companions, you may have to consult a mental health professional.
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