Peer pressure is when your child feels pressured into doing something by their friends that they wouldn’t usually do, so they fit in. Peer pressure isn’t always a bad thing – for example, they may end up eating vegetables because their friend likes them, or joining a school club, reading a book or listening to music that a friend recommends.
But unfortunately peer pressure can also be negative, and can lead to children daring each other to do dangerous things like skipping school, shoplifting, smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs. So it’s a good idea to help your child learn how to stand up for themselves when they’re little, so they’ll be more resistant to peer pressure as they grow up.
Here are some tips to help them stand up to peer pressure. The Childline website has advice for your child on dealing with peer pressure, and the Parenting Smart website has suggestions for what to do if your child gives in to negative peer pressure and is then upset about it.