Today’s teens have a concern want to fit it in and and become apart of the in crowd or clicks as they now say. They are constantly trying to find out what’s hot and what’s not.

Teaching your child to be independent and choose better friends can help them in a long run. Showing them to stand up for themselves in any situation or circumstance. Encouraging your daughter/son to speak up when they feel uncomfortable or in a peer pressure situation is the best example of independence. Stepping out of the shadow and into the light will teach them that whomever they surround themselves around they know the difference between right and wrong and whatever situation they’re in they have the right to walk away.

Spend time doing mock examples of situations or special circumstances that would involve them to say “NO” .

It doesn’t matter how old they are it’s never too late to practice. With things going on in today’s society, drugs, shooting, and recently gang attacks teach them to identify their surrounding and understand at any moment they feel the sliest chill of vulnerability, get up and quickly exit that situation. Speak to your parent or counselor if you know something is wrong and remember that it is up to you to be the leader or someone’s follower.

Teaching your child to stand on your their two feet instead of playing follow the leader game will teach them no matter what you go through you are your own person and you have a say in your life. I understand how much all teens desire to fit in , ask your parents we were all teens once but it’s better to be yourself because people will see the real you and not something else.

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