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