Elementary school is the perfect time to talk about peer pressure
Most kids face peer pressure when they get to middle or high school. But did you know that even in elementary school, children can feel pressure to fit in and to do what “everyone else” is doing?
Sometimes, that means going along with teasing on the playground. Other times, it means watching a movie at a friend’s house that she would never be allowed to watch at home.
Now is the time to teach your child how to handle peer pressure—and how to say no to things that don’t fit with your family’s rules or values. Encourage your child to say and remember these statements:
- I can say no to things that would put me in danger.
- I can make good choices for myself.
- I can say, “You’re my friend, but I don’t choose to do that.”
- It’s OK if I make choices that are not the same as the choices my friends make.
Find more great articles in the April 2022 issue of Parents Make the Difference!® newsletter.
Reprinted with permission from the April 2022 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2022 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: D. Bloch, The Power of Positive Talk: Words to Help Every Child Succeed, FreeSpirit Publishers.