PEER PRESSURE

 

Peer pressure can be handled with so much ease if learners show an understanding of self-control, discipline, confidence and differentiating between right and wrong.

Below are some examples of the negative peer pressure that schoolers suffer from.

 

    •           Needing to dress or act a certain way.

 

    •           Cheating or copying someone else's work or letting others copy your work.

 

      •           Not including certain people in social activities.

 

     •           Taking dangerous risks when driving.

 

•           Using drugs or alcohol.

 

      •           Shoplifting or stealing.

•           Engaging in sexual activity.

 

•           Engaging in bullying or cyberbullying.

 

•           Projecting a misleading/false image on social media.

A learner that has pre- experience on how to handle pressure at home tends to be on the advantage site or suffer not from pre pressure at school. E.g., some children grow up with three to four siblings thus they stand a chance of being exposed to both positive and negative pressure at home and under the parent's supervision these acts receive high attention through appraisal and condemnation right away. These types of learners are not easily influenced by their peers at school nor give in to peer pressure because of the strong belief and values instilled in them by their parents.

These learners always live by the following strategies to help handle negative peer pressure?

•         They pay attention to how they feel. If something doesn't feel right about a situation, they know that it isn't. Even if their friends seem ok with what is going on, they always realize that the situation is not right for him/her.

 •       Plan ahead. They do think about how she/he     will respond in different                     situations. Plan         what they can say or what they can do.

 

•           Talk to the person who is pressuring,

•        Have a secret code to communicate with parents. Something they can say or text to their parent(s) that let them know that they are in need out of a situation. Parents can either call or text or pick them up.

 

•           Have friends with similar values and beliefs. It is easier to say "no, if someone else is also saying it. Saying "no, together makes it easier for the both of you.

 

•           Get support from a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, or school counselor. A trusted adult that can listen to him/her and help them with strategies that might work in their situation.