Between the ages of 12 and 21, there is huge pressure for teens to conform to their peers. It is at this age that children will start looking to their friends instead of their parents for advice on everything from what to wear in school to how serious to be about schoolwork.Parents can still play an important role during this time by helping children to make good choices when they are being influenced by peers.
Is peer pressure always negative?
There tends to be a focus on the bad effects of peer pressure. However, the desire to be like their peers can be beneficial for children too.Peer pressure can provide kids this age with:
- Friendship and acceptance
- Shows how to treat others with respect and kindness
- Shows the benefits of hard work
- Opportunities to meet new people
- Encouragement to try new things and join in new activities
However there is a negative side, peer pressure can also cause teens to try risky behaviour:
- Smoking
- Sex
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Unsafe use of social media and mobile phones
- Cheating and shoplifting.
