Peer pressure can both be positive and negative. But humans generally tend to pick up negative aspects a lot quicker than positive ones, such is the case of peer pressure. When your kid reaches high school, it is generally the time where peer pressure is the most. Students generally tend to do foolish mistakes during this time which can lead to a lot of problems in your kid’s life when he/she grows up.
Schools and colleges like G.D. Goenka, Rohtak have been taking huge steps to minimize the negative aspect of peer pressure, like introducing anti-ragging and bullying program for students, counseling sessions to help them open up and deal with the issues that they have been facing with an adult and get proper help while there is still time. These introductions have helped a lot of students in getting out of peer pressure.
Mentioned below are some of the negative impacts that peer pressure can have on your kids.
1) Low self-confidence
One of the most common aspects of peer pressure can be of low confidence. Due to constant teasing and pressurizing on weak points of the kids, peer pressure can certainly cause a lowered self-confidence among young teens. Low-self confidence is one of the most common problems among high school students nowadays and the main reason is peer pressure. This could have a psychological impact on your child as well.
2) Low academic performance
There is a variety of students in schools, some like to study and while others are more into fun. If your ward has people like that around him, he may even stop studying just to fit in the group so that no one can treat him/her as an outcast. This could have a major impact on your child’s academic performance.
3) Exposure to bad habits
People adapt to bad habits better than they adapt to good habits. This statement is completely true in this case as a lot of kids tend to pick their bad habits from their peer group. As more and more cases of underage alcoholism, smoking, etc. are surfacing every day, your kid might also get tangled in it somehow. They just do this to fit into the group and look cool but in reality, they are just damaging their health and career.
4) Self-harm
One of the most inappropriate impacts of peer pressure is self-harm. Due to constant bullying and teasing from peers, students may get mislead and may harm themselves or show suicidal tendencies. Teenagers generally think that no one understands them which makes them live with all the problems and issues within themselves. This may lead them to depression and the worst of it all, suicide.
5) Can make them feel ashamed of their background
There are a lot of students in a school that can be from a different religion, race, economic backgrounds, etc. In such cases, students from privileged sections of the society may form a group and pick on weak students or students from humble backgrounds. This may lead to making those students feel bad about themselves, their life and their family. This could lead to arguments in the family and an inferiority complex in your child which isn’t okay at all.
How to help your child to avoid this?
Although the impact of peer pressure can be damaging for your child, some ways can help you to steer your child clear off them. You should have proper communication regularly with your child. This will make them feel confident when talking to you. While having the conversation, try to look for signs that may indicate any serious issues and act as their friend. Make sure you teach your kids life lessons and the importance of morality. Keep boosting them up, this will help them to get more confident and face problems a lot better. Acting as their friend and making them realize their importance for you will help you to bridge the communication gap between the 2 generations which will surely help them.
