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yesilay.org.tr
16
YEŞiLAY
•
SPRING 2015
FILE
ARTICLE
Peer pressure is a situation where a child is
compelled or encouraged to do something
by a friend circle or peer group. Children
tend to do what is demanded by the group
even when they are not willing to. Such
pressure is most common in the second
phase of the primary education and during
the secondary education. You can take
notice of recommendations below in
order to take measures against the peer
pressure:
■
Teach your children how to say “no”.
Thus, they will have the courage and
determination to stand up to any situation
which bothers them.
■
Encourage them to share any pressure
or compulsion exerted by their peers with
you and their teachers.
■
Inspire them to consider the outcomes
of their behaviors, and harms that can be
caused by them.
■
Set long-term or short-term targets
for your children. Positive expectations and
dreams for the future helps them to hold
on to life more firmly.
■
Talk with your children about matters
such as the the main purpose of school,
what kind of a life they dream about, what
their dreams jobs are, which will enable
them to hold on to the real purpose of their
lives.
■
Teach them that they can only be
strong when they oppose what is wrong,
not by obeying their friends’ demands
that are harmful or they are not willing to
do. Ensure they are aware this is the real
strength and virtue.
DO NOT LET YOUR
CHILDREN BE
VICTIMS OF PEERS
CHILDREN SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED PROPERLY
The task of the family is to establish a disciplinary system
in accordance with the needs and demands of the child. In
order to offer the children a safe environment where they can
express themselves easily, parents should avoid pressure
and define the limits through a determined and consistent
discipline. Research has shown that the risk of drug abuse for
children increases when parents set extremely strict rules or
no rules at all.
Democratic approach in the family does not mean parents do
whatever their children want. Rather, the best way to establish
this is to make sure that children behave within the frame of
certain rules that are not strict but flexible. Children that are
raised without boundaries are prone to be unsatisfied and
develop risky attitudes in the future.