Peer Pressure
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN PEER PRESSURE AND BAD HABITS!
Definition Of Peer Pressure In Webster's Dictionary ..... social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.
So, what does peer pressure have to do with bad habits? Unfortunately, many terrible habits that young children start are a direct result of peer pressure responses. If a group of children are all smoking except for one child, that one child may feel left out. In order to feel comfortable with that particular group, this child may smoke a cigarette to be accepted. To many children,acceptance is important to social growth, whether positive or negative. As parents, we need to reinforce the positives, while educating our children on the negatives.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS!
To explain peer pressure to your child, use the arrow image below. Ask them what they see in the image, and to explain the significance of the red arrow.
Example - If they need help, explain to them the white arrows are children who do not exercise at all, and the red arrow is a child who exercises on a daily basis. Then ask them the following questions:
1. We all know that exercise is good for you, but why are there so many white arrows and only one red arrow?
2. Does this mean the white arrows are correct because there are more of them?
3. What makes the red arrow so special?
4. Why is the red arrow more strong minded than the white arrows?
5. Give an example how you could be a red arrow.
STUDY THE IMAGE.....WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The above image can be used to teach your children a valuable lesson about thinking for oneself, and to not let other children dictate what they do. A child should not be accepted into a group just for performing an specific act celebrated by that group,but rather because they are an individual.