The Pull of Peer Pressure

Kids and peer pressure is a topic that’s been around forever … even Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stuck together in a show of positive peer pressure when they were faced with the fiery furnace back in Babylon.

Parents see the pull of peer pressure and are concerned when that peer pressure has the potential to set their child on the wrong path.

Understandably, a lot of research has been done as to what causes peer pressure and what kind of kid is most influenced. (Sometimes it is the social child who will yield to peer pressure and the independent, quiet child who confidently says “no” to a bad influence.)

A study reported in Leslie Kaplan’s book, Coping with Peer Pressure, showed that tweens (ages 11-13) are at a particularly vulnerable age for being swayed by their friends.

A principle found in Proverbs 13:20 says simply that those who are friends of fools will find trouble, but that the wise person will choose wise friends.

So how do we encourage our kids to be friends with the wise, not the foolish?

1. We need to be encouraging parents. When we’re involved in our kids’ lives and give them affirmation, they aren’t so gullible when someone tries to persuade them to make a wrong choice. We’re to bring up on kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord – that includes encouragement.

2. We need to put them in situations with other Christian kids. If we’re too busy to go to church with them, too busy to take them to Awana, too anxious to get home to watch the football game that we don’t allow them time to talk with their friends after the Sunday morning service, we’re missing opportunities for them to be with other Christian kids. Paul writes in many places that we are to have fellowship with one another. We need to give our kids an opportunity to do that, too.

3. We need to encourage them to develop their talents. In Proverbs 22:20 we read that those who are skilled in their work will stand before kings. When we help our child become a specialist in something – whether it’s running, playing the guitar, gymnastics or weaving, we are helping them become self-confident. Kids who are confident are less likely to be swayed by someone else.

4. We need to teach them that peer pressure is not always wrong. They can be a good influence on those around them and talk their friends into making right choices. They can be the wise ones to whom others look.  (Proverbs 13:20)

Peer pressure can be a powerful force is causing our kids to make wrong choices. Peer pressure can also be good when kids encourage each other to do what’s right.