Prevent Peer Pressure To help your tween withstand peer pressure, teach her about self-respect, respect for others and high standards. When a person believes in herself she is more likely to make the right decisions in difficult moments, says Mike Domitrz, author of May I Kiss You? (Awareness Publications, 2003) and creator of Can I Kiss You?, an interactive program for schools and campuses. Students with low self-esteem are more likely to lower their standards to please others – a very dangerous and unhealthy behavior. Many tween girls are already having romantic thoughts about boys, whether parents are ready for this or not. Domitrz stresses girls need to learn early to expect to be respected and not to tolerate any forms of disrespect. Watching parents model healthy behavior toward others creates the foundation for healthy relationships in a preteens future. And, of course, discussing peer pressure issues with your preteen will help your child avoid and work through them. Kathy Anderson of Taos, N.M., and her 10-year-old daughter, Rachel, have frequent conversations about peer pressure. Recently a group of Rachels friends became boy-crazy, spending recesses chasing boys and talking about them. Rachel isnt interested in romance yet, and when she didnt join in with the girls, they snubbed her. Rachel felt hurt, but we talked about friendship and what she wants in a friend, Anderson says. The next day Rachel decided to build friendships with kids in her class that share her interests in soccer and dance.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 07:01:58 +0000
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