Have your friends ever used pressure on you? Did you give in, even though you didn’t want to. Pure pressure can include put-downs, rejections, and reasoning, as well as pressure without words, or unspoken pressure.
At some point, you will be offered alcohol. To resist such pressure, teens say they prefer quick “one-liners” that allow them to dodge a drink without making a big scene. It will probably work best for yuo or your teen to take the lead in thinking up comebacks to drink offers so that you will feel comfortable saying them. Here are some simple pressure-busters.
|
Resisting Pressure:
|
Ways to say no:
|
It’s not enough to tell your young teen that he or she should avoid alcohol or drugs, you also need to help your child figure out how.
What can your daughter say when she goes to a party and a friend offers her a beer?
Or what should your son do if he finds himself in a home where kids are passing around a bottle of wine and parents are nowhere in sight? What should their response be if they are offered a ride home with an older friend who has been drinking?
Brainstorm with your teen for ways that he or she might handle these and other difficult situations, and make clear how you are willing to support your child. An example: “If you find yourself at a home where kids are drinking, call me and I’ll pick you up—and there will be no scolding or punishment.” The more prepared your child is, the better able he or she will be to handle high-pressure situations that involve drinking.
Reasoning:
Telling a person reasons why they should try something or why it would be OK if they did. (Nobody said these were good reasons.) Some examples of pressure by reasoning are:
-
It won't hurt you.
-
Your parents will never find out.
- You'll have more fun.
| Next > |
|---|