The Most Positive Way
By Joseph Rizzi
Imagine that you're at home, when your son has just arrived home from school with a huge smile on his face. He dashes right through the door to tell you that his friends helped him study for the social studies test. You look at the test to see your son has scored a 100 and a huge smile runs across your face as well. A few hours later, you peek out your window to find your son hanging out, playing soccer with his friends and even some new friends he had just met at school. Just then you remember that he isn't such a sporty guy, but you're still glad to see him having fun. Positive peer pressure leads to new relationships, better heath habits, and improvement in academic performance.
Developing positive peer pressure begins with relationships. According to Youth Resources, "Peers build friendships with those they have the most in common. They utilize their similar work ethic, hobbies, and interest to create mutual bonds on which they can base their friendships". Teenagers learn that it is important to become a responsible individual. They also practice making informed choices and leadership skills when they are part of a positive peer group (Does peer pressure have positive or negative impacts on teen behavior?). Friends are people who will be there right beside you even in your darkest times. They can be very supportive and helpful in school and in extracurricular activities. When competing against each other it makes you strive to do better. I have a question for all those parents; don’t you want your children to have great relationships that will last till adulthood? Peers are there always to listen to you, give positive advice when you need it, and to lend a helping hand. Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a person can receive.
Children change their exercise level about 10% to better match those in their circle. Children who hang out with active students are more likely to increase their physical activity level, while those who befriended more sedentary children become less active (Alice Park). Furthermore, Alice Park, a staff writer at TIME, states “Using these childhood networks to encourage exercise and perhaps other positive behaviors could help kids in the long run, by turning them into heather adults.” Teenagers in positive peer groups will show an interest in getting involved in extra curriculum activities and sport in school (Does peer pressure have positive or negative impacts on teen behavior?). Hanging out with active peers results in making a child exercise more, decreasing the risk of becoming obese. Kids get more involved when they see their best friends being active and having a blast. It helps teens increase their heathy habits without them realizing it. In track I wasn’t the fastest runner, and it was a very difficult and tough time for me. However, I know I could accomplish my goal to increase my speed, due to being surrounded by some of my friends. Even though track gave me a lot of pain, it really helped me decrease the chances of becoming overweight.
Since the urge to "belong" to a peer group is all about feeling included and accepted, there is also a natural tendency to behave and become like the other members of the peer group. Therefore, when the members of the peer group believe in doing well in class and doing their regular lessons with care, you will find that other teenagers will do the same thing. The direct effect can be observed in the grades and social activities (Does peer pressure have positive or negative impacts on teen behavior?). Emily Cuddy and Richard V. Reeves, both writers of "Classroom peer pressure: A mixed blessing", believe that "Culture, norms and peers matter a great deal for the design and implementation of policy. Policy makers often assume that giving struggling students additional resources will help succeed. "Peers can influence teens while also assisting them in order to succeed on a test. Over a period you will notice that your average is increasing because of your friends. When a peer gets a high grade on a test, doesn't that make you want to do better? I know I would. Having a study session with a bunch of your closest friends, gets you guys to get more interacted with each other, while also studying and sharing ideas that could help you understand the topic more. Your best friends are the greatest people who could help to do better in your academic performance.
Others argue that negative peer pressure groups have a greater impact on teens, for instance, smoking, drinking, and the use of illegal drugs, just to fit in with their group. This belief assumes that one-fifth of teenagers say their friends take drugs to look "cool", new research revealed. Teenagers also state that their friends were pressured into faking drug taking so that they could fit in with their peers. However, you don't need to do daring things that risks your life in order to look cool or fit in. If people in your peer group make you do bad things just to look "cool", then those aren't your friends at all (Teenagers admit drug peer pressure).
Friendships, health, and grades are effects from positive peer pressure, that all change the behavior of a teen. Teens all over world are becoming more athletic, intelligent, and receiving new friendships when they have positive friends to help them on the journey. So, for all those parents out there, influence your kids to become involved in a supportive and encouraging group because they effect a teen in the most positive way.