Peer Pressure on Children and Teenager

Peer Pressure on Children and Teenager

Peer pressure is about being influenced and choosing to do something you wouldn't otherwise do, in the hope of feeling accepted and valued by others. It isn't just about doing something against your will.

Peer pressure can be positive. For example, your child might be influenced to become more assertive, try new activities, or to get more involved with school.

But it can be negative too. Some teenagers might be influenced to try things they normally wouldn't be interested in, such as smoking or taking part in antisocial behavior.

As examples, peer pressure might result in children:

• Choosing the same clothes, hairstyle, or jewellery as their friends.

• Listening to the same music or watching the same TV shows as their friends.

• Changing the way they talk, or the words they use.

• Taking risks or breaking rules.

• Working harder at school, or not working as hard.

•Dating or taking part in sexual activities.

• Smoking or drinking alcohol.

Children who experience poor self-esteem, those who feel they have few friends, and sometimes those with special needs might be more likely to give in to peer pressure. These children might feel that the only way they’ll be included and accepted in social groups is by taking on the behaviour, attitudes and look of a group.

Coping well with peer pressure is about getting the balance right between being yourself and fitting in with your group. 

Children who experience strong self-esteem are better at resisting negative peer pressure. If your child is happy with who he is and the choices he makes, he’s less likely to be influenced by the people around him. Self-esteem helps in establishing good relationships, but good friendships also help self-esteem.

Helping your child manage peer pressure--

You might be worried that your child is being over-influenced by her peers, or that she’s selling out on her values (or yours) to fit in with her friends. You might also be concerned that your child won’t be able to say no if she’s pressured to do more risky things, such as smoking.

But listening to the same music and dressing in the same way as friends doesn't necessary add up to doing the same antisocial or risky things. It’s worth remembering that you have an influence over your child too, especially over the longer term. If your child has a strong sense of himself and his values, it’s more likely he’ll know where to draw the line when it comes to the risky stuff.

Here are some ideas to help your child manage peer pressure:

Keep the lines of communication open. You can do this by staying connected to your child. This can help make her feel more comfortable talking to you if she’s feeling pressured to do something she’s uncomfortable with.

Suggest ways to say no . Your child might need to have some face-saving ways to say no if he’s being pressured to do something he doesn’t want to do. For example, friends might be encouraging him to try smoking, so rather than saying ‘No, thanks’, he could say something like, ‘No, it makes my asthma worse’, or ‘No, I don’t like the way it makes me smell’.

Give teenagers a way out. If your child feels she’s in a risky or high-pressure situation, it might help if she can text or phone you for back-up without worrying you’ll be cranky. If your child’s embarrassed about having to call you, you could agree on a coded message. For example, she could say that she’s checking on a sick grandparent, but you’ll know that it really means she needs a hand.

Encourage a wide social network. If your child has the opportunity to develop friendships from a wide range of sources (such as through sport, family activities or clubs), this will mean he’s got lots of other options and sources of support if a friendship goes wrong.

Build up your child’s sense of self-esteem. This can help her feel more confident to make her own decisions and push back on peer pressure.

When you’re worried about a peer group

Encouraging your child to have friends over and giving them space in your home can help you get to know your child’s friends and be aware if negative peer pressure is becoming an issue. Good communication and a positive relationship with your child might also encourage your child to talk to you if he’s feeling negative pressure from peers.

If you’re worried your child’s friends are a negative influence, being critical of them might push your child into seeing them behind your back. If your child thinks you don’t approve of her friends, she might even want to see more of them. Instead of focusing on any people you don’t like, you can try talking to your child about the behaviour you don’t like. Discuss the possible consequences of the behaviour, rather than making judgments about her friends.

It can be helpful to compromise with your child. For example, letting him wear certain clothes or have his hair cut in a particular way can help him feel connected to his peers, even if you’re not keen on blue hair or ripped jeans.


When to be concerned

If you notice changes in your child’s mood, behavior  eating or sleeping patterns, which you think are because of her friends, it might be time to have a talk with her. Some mood and behavior changes are normal in teenagers, but if they go on for a few weeks, you might start to worry about your child’s mental health.

Warning signs include:

• Low moods, tearfulness or feelings of hopelessness.
• Aggression or antisocial behavior.
• Sudden changes in behavior, often for no obvious reason.
• Trouble eating or sleeping.
• Eluctance to go to school.
• Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities.                                                                                                                                                                                

        If any parents see near to all problem in his child then they must think to consult a child psychologist for the proper evaluation and management.

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Pregnancy Anxiety

1.  Attend a Support Group 

 More and more organizations across the nation are starting support groups for women who are expecting again after a loss. 

2.  Find Success Stories -
 Other women who have made it through a subsequent pregnancy can be a great source of encouragement to you. They are living proof that it is possible to give birth to a healthy baby after the devastation of a loss. Ask your support group leader or health care provider for a referral.

3.  Request Frequent Prenatal Visits - 
There is nothing more reassuring than hearing the fetal heartbeat or seeing the baby's image during an ultrasound.  Even if you are not considered medically high-risk, ask your health care provider for more frequent prenatal appointments for peace of mind.

4.  Be Proactive -
The more knowledgeable you are about the medical aspects of your pregnancy, the better able you will be to discuss treatment options and outcomes with your health care provider. Stay on top of the latest research, and don't hesitate to ask questions or seek a second opinion.

5.  Worry Only about Actual Problems - 
All of us tend to dwell on the "what ifs." While you may not be able to eliminate worries altogether, you will be much happier if you resolve only to worry about actual problems, not what may potentially happen in the future.

6.  Involve Your Partner -
Need someone to lean on during prenatal visits? Having trouble making medical decisions on your own? Get your partner involved in your pregnancy. Research has shown that pregnant women with supportive partners have fewer problems overall.

7.  Treasure Every Moment 
 - Whenever you feel anxious about the future, take time to stop and remember that at this moment, the baby is alive and well. Appreciating your blessings instead of always dwelling on your fears will do wonders for your peace of mind

8.  Monitor the Baby's Movements -
If you are far enough along to feel kicks and jabs, set time aside each morning and night to monitor the baby's activities. This will have a double benefit. Not only will you be reassured that the baby is well, you also will be alerted to any unusual slowdowns that could signal potential problems.

9.  Try Not to Compare 
- Doctors agree that no two pregnancies are exactly alike. So as difficult as it may be, try not to dwell on any similarities between this pregnancy and the one that ended in a loss. Some complications do tend to recur, but since your health care provider now knows about these potential problems, treatment can be more effective.

10 -    Stay Focused on Your Goal 
- You may feel like you've been pregnant forever, but it helps to remember that before long the pregnancy will be a distant memory. If you didn't believe a good outcome was possible, you would not have made the decision to try again. Be grateful for the life growing inside of you and the hope that you will soon be giving birth to a healthy baby.

Self Injury in children's

Causes of Self Injury in children's 

1. Pain.
 Self abuse can sometimes be a sign of pain, especially for a child that has difficulty communicating or that is diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder. Observe the exact location of abuse and investigate whether it is possible that the child may be in pain. If the child is hitting his or her head or ear, try to determine if maybe they are suffering from a headache or earache.
You may want to ask if your child hurts or use the sign for pain while pointing to the area. Whatever method of communication you would typically use or if you are using a picture exchange communication system (PECS) , try to create a picture for pain to help them become familiar with this concept. If you believe your child is in pain, contact your pediatrician or family doctor for further instruction.

2. Attention seeking behavior.
 Self injurious behavior can also occur as a way to get attention. If you notice that the child tends to head bang or do other types of injurious behavior usually when alone and someone frequently goes over to give them attention immediately after the behavior, then attention is probably the motivator. Putting the child on a schedule of frequent attention every 5-10 minutes can help with this. You may also find additional strategies for attention seeking behavior at the link above.


3. Access to desirable items.
 Some children will learn that when they can't have something they often gain access to preferred items after hurting themselves. Self injury for this reason can be very tricky. If you try to withhold the items following self abuse you will risk an escalation leading to severe injury. You may find some of the tips on how to say no to be helpful, but seek help from a professional if you suspect this is the problem.

4. During transition times. Some children might engage in self injurious behavior to avoid transitioning to a new activity or to avoid and/or delay undesirable activities. Applying the transition strategies provided at the link above can help with a problem due to this reason.

5. Self-Regulation. It may also be helping a child to achieve self-regulation if the child suffers from sensory processing disorder. Working with an occupational therapist to develop a sensory diet and implement other sensory regulation activities can help to prevent self injury due to this reason.

6. Escape from undesirable activities. A child that doesn't want to do something that is asked might discover that self injury stops requests to do things. Compliance strategies can help to avoid injurious behavior due to this reason, but additional professional assistance may be needed if the behaviors are frequent or severe.