| Your teenager faces several areas of peer pressure | | | | no effect. Your teenager equates his popularity among |
| during his or her high school years. | | | | his friends with his self worth. The more insecure your |
| What makes it even harder for your teenager is that | | | | teenager is, the more likely he will give into these |
| most parents do not understand the depths to which | | | | pressures to be accepted and popular.Threats and |
| these pressures go.Cigarettes and AlcoholCigarettes | | | | punishment by parents put additional pressure on |
| and alcohol more than likely will be among the first | | | | teenagers. Now they face the pressure from their |
| areas which your teenager will have to face peer | | | | peers on one side and the threats from their parents |
| pressure. With movies and television flashing images of | | | | on the other side. Trying to avoid or ease some of the |
| underage smoking and drinking, most teenagers are | | | | pressure, teenagers may avoid contact with their |
| shown only the more enjoyable and funny sides of | | | | parents or lie to them.Instead, you should recognize |
| these habits.High school years are very competitive, | | | | that fitting in and not being called a looser is very |
| and where your teenager stands on the popular scale | | | | serious and important to your teen. Convey to your |
| with the rest of his or her peers is very important. To | | | | teen that you understand the pressures she is facing. |
| be considered a "looser" is one of the biggest fears of | | | | Offer open discussions about situations and incidents - |
| today's teenager.To avoid this label they sometimes | | | | without the threat of punishment or judgment. This will |
| will portray an image of being tough, rebellious and | | | | encourage your teenager to talk and lead them to |
| uncontrolled by their parents. For today's teenagers, | | | | trust you for advice about specific issues they are |
| smoking and drinking are the easiest ways to declare | | | | facing. By openly discussing the pressures they are |
| their independence.DrugsA more dangerous and | | | | facing with you, you will have a chance to voice your |
| potentially life-threatening pressure teens face is drugs. | | | | concerns and your opinion. Your teenager will be far |
| The first and most commonly available is marijuana. | | | | more receptive to your suggestions if situations are |
| This is a cheap and readily-available drug in today's | | | | discussed peacefully.Be open with your teenager |
| society, and most teenagers do not consider it harmful. | | | | about all forms of sexual intercourse. Explain that there |
| In their eyes it does not cause serious addictions like | | | | are other reasons not to become sexually involved too |
| heroin or methamphetamines. The marijuana use | | | | early. Besides worrying about pregnancy and the |
| depicted in movies and television does not show | | | | spread of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, |
| teenagers that marijuana is illegal and that being caught | | | | remind your teenager that they also need to consider |
| under the influence or in possession of such an item | | | | their pride and self respect.Christina Botto has been |
| can ruin their future. Additionally, smoking marijuana | | | | involved with helping parents and teenagers resolve |
| may lead to more serious drugs such as heroin, crack | | | | complicated issues for more than 14 years, observing |
| or methamphetamines.SexEvery year the age at | | | | and developing parenting strategies. Her dedication to |
| which teenagers begin having sex gets younger and | | | | helping parents inspired her to write her book, 'Help Me |
| younger. In order to be popular or liked by boys, a girl | | | | With My Teenager! A Step-by-step Guide for Parents |
| must be willing to have sex. Otherwise, they are | | | | that Works.' Christina continues to help parents and |
| considered "up-tight" and are paid no attention. Boys | | | | their teens through her website |
| who are not willing to have casual sex with a girl are | | | | parents can find her book, news articles pertaining to |
| considered weak. Oral sex has become very popular | | | | teenagers as well as a community board for parents |
| among today's teenager due to teens' belief believe | | | | to find events and parenting articles, ask parenting |
| that it isn't serious since there is no risk of | | | | questions, and to share amusing or successful stories |
| pregnancy.What Parents Can DoTelling your teenager | | | | about their teenagers. |
| not to give into these peer pressures will have little or | | | | |