Peer pressure is something that many people find themselves facing at least once during their teenage years. In many cases, facing peer pressure is a daily occurrence. Since there are so many dangers that can result from giving into those pressures, it is important to make sure that you are talking to your children about this.
Drinking While Underage
It is important to make sure that you are discussing all of the dangers that come with underage drinking and how so many other teens might try to convince them that it is okay. You will want to explain that many people who start drinking very early in life often find themselves to be alcoholics later on. Discuss places that offer alcohol rehab for women and how so many of the women there are struggling to regain normalcy in their lives. Also, when teens start drinking at such a young age, they are more prone to make disastrous decisions that could end their lives or the lives of other people.
Teen Pregnancy
While this is a talk you want to have with both male and female teenagers, the talk will be slightly different for each one. It is important for you to make sure that you are talking to your daughter about the pressure she may feel when it comes to a boyfriend wanting her to engage in sexual activity. Explain that sexual intercourse, even when protection is used, can lead to teen pregnancy because the only thing that is one hundred percent effective is abstinence.
If you have a teenage son, he needs to be taught that there is never a situation where it is okay to use peer pressure someone into engaging in sexual activity. You will also want to make sure that you are explaining the financial cost that would come from raising a child. Make sure that your teens are well aware of the various sexually transmitted diseases that they can contract even if they are careful.
The Impact Of Their Futures
Whether it is making the decision to drink and drive or engage in sexual activity, their futures are at risk. Their health is the first thing that they are gambling with when they decide to cave into the peer pressure. Every year, about 2,000 underage drinkers die in automobile accidents. This is an alarming figure and it needs to be explained to your teenagers so they grasp that this is real. It is not just something moms and dads say to scare teens.
Above and beyond that, getting pregnant too soon or getting involved in an accident where someone dies will harm their future. They could end up in jail or they could end up facing financial instability for the rest of their lives because they never really gave themselves the chance that they needed to give themselves.
Don’t Wait
The sooner you start talking with your teens about the seriousness of giving in to peer pressure the better. Also, you will want to occasionally talk about this every so often as a helpful reminder so just your teens will always have your advice repeating itself in their heads. They are going to need that constant reassurance that they can do the right thing when it comes to peer pressure.
