Let’s talk a minute about peer pressure. There is a lot of speculation and theories about peer pressure. Many believe that when young people are with their peers they will pressure them into doing bad things. If the child refuses the group will make them feel unwelcome or different and make chastise them or alienate them. This is not always the case. In fact I have never experienced peer pressure in my life.
When I was a child I never wanted to smoke, drink, or do drugs. I hung out with a lot of people who did all of these things. They would occasionally ask me if I wanted to try these things and I would say no each time. No one ever judge me thought I was stuck up or a loser because I said no and I never judged them for doing what they did I did not condone it and all of my friends knew that I did not agree with what they were doing. But I never told them what they should or should not do because I did not want them to tell me that I should do the things they did. I was entitled to my own opinion; and so were they. I have never witnessed anyone else do anything other than the scenario I just explained.
Every now and then (even to this day since I am over 21) people would ask me why I did not want to or why I have never tried these things, out of curiosity, and I always kindly explain that I just never felt the need to. I don’t need those things to have fun therefore I see no reason to put any substance into my body that can potentially harm it. If I do not need it I do not want it. Once I explain that the topic is typically dropped. People, even kids, do not tend to think that people who do not do things the way they choose to should be judged. Most people understand that some people choose to do certain things and some people choose not to.
That being said adults should not be quick to blame the bad decisions kids make on their friends. Their friends may have had a hand in it by introducing certain things to the child but in reality each child has their own mind. If they watch television or the adults in their lives have taught them right from wrong, they know when they are doing something bad. Think about it, if they did not know they would do their dirt in secrecy.
All we can do is teach and warn kids about the dangers that lurk in the world, instill them with values and morals, and empower them with the tools and knowledge to know what is right and wrong and be able to stand their ground and make their own decisions. After we have done all of that it is up to them. They will make mistakes, they will lie, and they will hide things, but as long as they know you will be there for them when they fall and that they can trust you to always love them and never judge them after a horrible mistake, they will do just fine!
When I was a child I never wanted to smoke, drink, or do drugs. I hung out with a lot of people who did all of these things. They would occasionally ask me if I wanted to try these things and I would say no each time. No one ever judge me thought I was stuck up or a loser because I said no and I never judged them for doing what they did I did not condone it and all of my friends knew that I did not agree with what they were doing. But I never told them what they should or should not do because I did not want them to tell me that I should do the things they did. I was entitled to my own opinion; and so were they. I have never witnessed anyone else do anything other than the scenario I just explained.
Every now and then (even to this day since I am over 21) people would ask me why I did not want to or why I have never tried these things, out of curiosity, and I always kindly explain that I just never felt the need to. I don’t need those things to have fun therefore I see no reason to put any substance into my body that can potentially harm it. If I do not need it I do not want it. Once I explain that the topic is typically dropped. People, even kids, do not tend to think that people who do not do things the way they choose to should be judged. Most people understand that some people choose to do certain things and some people choose not to.
That being said adults should not be quick to blame the bad decisions kids make on their friends. Their friends may have had a hand in it by introducing certain things to the child but in reality each child has their own mind. If they watch television or the adults in their lives have taught them right from wrong, they know when they are doing something bad. Think about it, if they did not know they would do their dirt in secrecy.
All we can do is teach and warn kids about the dangers that lurk in the world, instill them with values and morals, and empower them with the tools and knowledge to know what is right and wrong and be able to stand their ground and make their own decisions. After we have done all of that it is up to them. They will make mistakes, they will lie, and they will hide things, but as long as they know you will be there for them when they fall and that they can trust you to always love them and never judge them after a horrible mistake, they will do just fine!