Parent ToolKit: How to Help Your Middle School Child Survive Peer Pressure

So your tween is in Middle school now. They will have alot of changes to deal with during the transition, of being your little boy or girl, to becoming an individual of their own.
When kids reach this point of their lives, fitting in somewhere is very important to them. They tend to identify more with peers then with family. What their "friends" think is all important in this new world of theirs. How can you help counter-act the negative peer pressure they will have to deal with?

Things You'll Need:
•Patience (and alot of it)
•A willingness to listen to your childs concerns
•Alot of unconditional love and forgiveness when you child gives in to the peer pressure.

Step 1
You will find that the average middle schooler is a slave to what their peers think about them. As a rule, what you think has moved to the back shelf. Don't get upset with your child this is pretty normal. What you do to help them make right choices will make all the difference in the world. First encourage your child and their friends to hang out at your house. That way you know where they are and what they're doing. Always make it a pleasant place for the kids by keeping munchies around and giving them a little "space". Not to much but enough so they can giggle and gossip.

Step 2
Make sure you have reasonable age appropriate boundaries in place for your child to be able to lean back on when they feel pressured to do something they know is wrong. Saying "no way my mom would kill me" is a way out for kids when the pressure is on.

Girl Rule Book of the Day!
American Girl's Smart Girl's Guide to Middle School
Middle school is all about change. This book, filled with tips and quizzes, will help girls feel more confident as they anticipate and adjust to the changes of middle school.

Step 3
Encourage your child to invite friends to do fun things like going to the beach or horseback riding. Whatever they enjoy doing. Be the parent that provides transportation most of the time. So even the kids are just going to a movie you will be there to pick them up. It can help keep them from doing foolish things and ending up in trouble.

Step 4
Get to know the parents of your child's friends that way you will have access to information about what your child is doing when at their friends houses.

Step 5
Last but not least, Be patient and forgiving when your kid makes a mistake due to poor judgement. Remember this is a child and they really don't have alot of wisdom developed yet. Keep in mind that they will grow up one day and will be much wiser then today.

Ladon Brumfield
Girls Rule!
http://www.girlz-rule.org/