Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

01-12-2025

Offer Choices to Head Off Peer Pressure

Your child wants to wear a particular type of shirt because "everyone" is doing it. Even at this young age, children are influenced by their peers' behavior. By middle school or high school, your child may feel pressured to try riskier behaviors.

Giving your child practice making choices now is a good way to build resistance to peer pressure later. Experience gives children confidence in their own ability to make the right decisions for themselves.

For a start, you might let your child choose a birthday gift for a friend (within reason and your budget). You might also offer options when it comes to what clothes to wear. Or you might allow your child to choose an extracurricular activity. Just make sure that all the options you offer are acceptable to you.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District