How to help your teenager manage peer pressure

Adolescent Behavior Specialist Michael Bradley, EdD, shares advice for parents on the best methods for teaching your teenage child to deal with negative peer pressure
Teaching Your Teenager How to Deal with Peer Pressure
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How to help your teenager manage peer pressure

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Parents are very much worried about what we perceive as peer pressure on kids. And it's largely misunderstood. First of all, most peer pressure is positive. So , stop thinking that just because a kid looks weird, it's going to be bad for your kid. However, if you're sure that there's negative peer pressure, stop looking at the peers. Look at your kid,. The research shows that peers don't make the kid. Kids seeks out peers, and help him feel normal or okay, which means your child may have some issue. So stop focusing on the friends. Focus on the kid, and maybe, look for things like depression or anxiety, social anxiety, in particular. Some kids are afraid to try to meet the more successful kids. So they'll hang out with the kids who have issues, because they know they won't be rejected. If that's your child's choice, that setting him up for a lot of other negative behaviors such as drugs. So don't focus on the friends. Focus on your child and find out why they're attaching themselves to those kids.

Adolescent Behavior Specialist Michael Bradley, EdD, shares advice for parents on the best methods for teaching your teenage child to deal with negative peer pressure

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Michael J. Bradley, EdD

Psychologist, Author & Speaker

Michael J. Bradley, EdD, award-winning author, has counseled adolescents and their parents for over 30 years and currently has a private practice in suburban Philadelphia. As a recognized specialist in adolescent behavior and parenting, Dr. Bradley is in demand as a speaker and facilitator for mental health professionals, educators, and parenting groups. He has appeared on over 400 radio and television shows, including CNN, The Today Show and Good Morning, America, and has been interviewed by numerous magazines and newspapers such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Parents Magazine. His website forum is a great source of advice and encouragement to parents.

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