Peer Pressure

Tweens usually look for support from three sources-friends, family, and the media. Because a child's friends can have tremendous influence on kids' behavior and decisions, start early to teach kids how to choose friends wisely. Part of helping kids choose friends is encouraging them to get involved in activities that are interesting, fun, and don't involve alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.

Parents can also help kids resist pressure to drink by tracking children's activities, connecting with other parents, and enforcing a "no alcohol use" rule in the house. In addition, parents can give their children firm guidance on how to say NO. For many kids, knowing how to say no is a big part of resisting peer pressure. Help them practice ways to say "No thanks" by starting with these comebacks:

• I don't like it.do you have a soda?
• Alcohol's not my thing.
• Are you talking to me? Forget it!
• Why do you keep pressuring me when I said NO?
• Back off!

Importance of Parents

To conclude, the tween years can be a time of confusion, when youth are more susceptible to negative influences. However, by building a strong and trusting relationship and by getting involved in the child's life, parents can help protect and guide their child in positive directions. Your time and interest in your children's interests and activities not only add structure and stability to their decisions, but it often helps to reduce confusion.

Importantly, parents can provide skills to help kids resist alcohol and gain the courage to contradict peer pressure and other negative influences-and at the same time, have lots of fun as a family.

Sources

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