Wednesday, January 31, 2018

3 Tips on Teaching Kids about Peer Pressure

"What are you bringing for show-and-tell, Maggie?" I draw a big fat zero. 
Stories like Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show-and-Tell can help kids understand peer pressure.

"Some kids don't even recognize peer pressure when it's happening, while others may be overly sensitive," says Fran Walfish, Ph.D., a child and family psychotherapist in Beverly Hills, California, and author of The Self-Aware Parent.  Peer pressure can come from social issues (hair styles or which television shows to watch) or material things (having the coolest lunch box or school clothes).                                                                                                  
Kids experience peer pressure as early as kindergarten. Teasing and being laughed at is often a part of the pushiness.  No parent wants that for their kids.  Therefore, it's important to teach children what about peer pressure early on so they will know how to react. 

  • Child psychologists suggest parents can help children by crafting a clever and kind response which can be rehearsed through role-playing and used in any situation.  
  • Parents can also help their children feel good about their own preferences by giving them frequent opportunities to talk about their likes and dislikes and things that are troubling. 
  • Parents magazine says that picture books will help children learn why it's important to not give in to peer pressure. Pick up a copy of Maggie and teach your children to recognize peer pressure.  
Here are more helpful books.   
A Bad Case of Stripes, by David Shannon
Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes 
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
Riding the Tiger, by Eve Bunting 
One of Us, by Peggy Moss  


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