Are there any effective ways to help kids resist peer pressure?
While you can’t pick your preteens’ friends the way you could when they were toddlers, you can help them practice ways to resist negative peer pressure. Example: There’s a party next weekend. You know that the parents will be home chaperoning the event. But you also know that some kids do things they’re not supposed to as soon as a chaperone’s back is turned. Discuss the issues that can arise with your son or daughter before the party and ask lots of “what if?” questions. Examples: “What if your friends dare you to do something you know is against our family’s rules?” Some parents have had great success giving their children “escape lines.” These lines let preteens blame their parents when they are resisting pressure so that they feel more confident and less humiliated. Example: Tell your preteen, “If someone offers you liquor or calls you a wimp because you refuse to drink, say, `No thanks. My dad always smells my breath when I come home… ‘ or, `I’ll get grounded for a month if my m
