Back To School 2018

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16 BACK TO SCHOOL 2018 PASADENA WEEKLY
dangerous sexual behaviors. Though peer pressure
is definitely a causative factor in drug and alcohol
abuse, it can also be used as an excuse for poor
impulse-control and individual lapses in judgment,
according to the CDC.
Parents must he actively engaged in ways that
may make their child uncomfortable, but inevitably
will lead to a stronger bond and greater awareness
of signs of trouble. Get to know your child’s friends
and, whenever possible, take an active interest in
their likes and habits, too. This is often the best
gauge of what your child’s interests are likely to
lean toward. Encourage your children to come to
you with problems and be the one to initiate dialogue
with them when you sense things are amiss.
Between the ages of 6 and 12, children, experts
say, begin to see themselves and their place in society.
During this time, even children from harmonious,
healthy households learn that the world outside
can be cruel and mean-spirited, and that “going
along to get along” sometimes offers the path of
least resistance.
In my own home, I know firsthand the effects
of peer pressure on a sensitive child. Earlier this
year, my husband and I spent quite a bit of money
on a hairstylist for our 9-year-old daughter. Her hair
needed professional care, and the stylist we found
did a beautiful job, which my daughter also loved.
When I dropped my child off at school the next
day, I reminded her about the pricey hairdo and cautioned
her to leave her hair alone, and not to allow
others to touch it. Upon picking her up after school,