Teaching Kids how to Avoid Peer Pressure

Strategy

Example

Be direct and confident and look them straight in the eye!

"No, thanks!"

You don't need to offer an explanation

"Nope, I'm not interested!"
"Not tonight"

Use humor - Often a quick, witty comment will end the conversation

When asked if you want to smoke say, "No thanks, I'm not a chimney!"
"No thanks. That cigarette doesn't go with my outfit."
No thanks. My boyfriend doesn't like kissing an ashtray."
"No thanks. I like my teeth to be white not yellow."

Plan with a friend before hand what each of you will or will not do and stick together

"I'll pass" (you know your friend will also pass - this creates peer pressure back to the other person NOT to do whatever they wanted you to do!)

Plan ways to physically relocate in case of an uncomfortable situation

Go to the bathroom, the next room, out on a walk, or home.

Plan to have an excuse by passing the responsibility off on someone else.

"I'm going to the dentist and I don't want my breath to smell like cigarettes."
"No thanks. The coach won't let me play if I do drugs!

Plan in advance to leave the door open for future activities

"I can't stay now, but how about if we go to a movie later."

Plan on changing the topic, giving a compliment, asking an unrelated question

Is that what you do to be cool?

Now, why would I want to try something that is bad for you?

Hey, have you heard the new BackStreet Boys CD?

Tactic	Response
"Go ahead and have a drink. What's the matter, are you scared?"	"You must think I'm pretty stupid to fall for that line. It takes a lot more guts to do your own thing"
"Come on, all the cool kids drink"	"Maybe the kids who drink think they're cool, but if they really were cool, maybe they would not have to try do hard!"
"Hey, I'm your friend. Would I steer you wrong?"	"Friends are people who like you for who your are. If you are really a friend, respect my feelings."
"Do you want everyone to think you're not with it?	"Sure I care with other kids think of me, but if they base their opinions on stuff like drinking, their opinions are not worth very much."
"I bet you're just scared your parents will find out you're drinking."	"I would not blame my parents for getting angry. How can I expect them to treat me like an adult if I sneak around and act like a kid."

for more information about avoiding negative peer pressure, see:

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