b'Helping Our Teens Navigate PEER PRESSUREBy Shanna Garza, MD | Contributor Asourteensgrowintomiddleschoolandhighschool,theyCHARACTER DRIVEN CHOICESare often aware of their friends and classmates experimentingBuilding character helps teens understand what they value, what and trying out risky behaviors. These behavior choices may beis right for them and ensures that their choices reflect their values. normalized and are commonly seen as part of the high schoolFamiliescanhelpteensbuildstrongcharacterthroughopen experience.However,weknowexperimentingwithvaping,discussions and through teaching by example. When teenagers drinking,smokingweed,sexuality,promiscuity,inappropriateconsider how their choices reflect who they are and what they social media use, pornography, and other risky behaviors canbelieve, they ensure that their behaviors are in line with their have serious consequences. Many teens feel pressure to fit in orcharacter. Much of peer pressure is internally drivenwanting just go with the flow with what their friends are choosing to do.to fit in, not wanting to look too young, wanting to look cool and How should our teen children handle these pressures and staymore mature. Character driven choices help guide teens to stay safe and healthy in the process? true to themselves.Its helpful to remind your teens that their parents were also teenagers once and understand what pressures they might feel. Teens should feel empowered and able to say no. LEARNING TO SAY NOFirst, I counsel families and parents to talk directly to their teens about the types of risky choices they may see with their peers and at school. Its helpful to remind your teens that their parents were also teenagers once and understand what pressures they might feel. Teens should feel empowered and able to say no. This seems simple, but parents can work with teenagers in role playing on how to say no in different challenging situations. Teens should learn how to say no in a clear and firm way and make it non-negotiable.Teenagersneedtorecognizewhentheirfriends behaviors are outside of their comfort zone, feel empowered to state their position clearly to their friends, and offer alternative choices that help maintain their friendships on their terms.62GoodLifeFamilyMag.comJANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020'