Peer pressure is a common issue faced by young children in school. Even in PreK, students can be influenced by their classmates or friends to do something they know is wrong or makes them uncomfortable. By teaching students to recognize and handle peer pressure, they can build resilience and make better decisions in social situations. This blog post will present an overview of the skills being discussed, a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help educators work with PreK students on handling peer pressure.

Introduction

Peer pressure can manifest in various ways, from jokes to more serious forms of bullying. It is crucial for PreK students to understand that they have the right to make their own decisions and that real friends should not pressure them. By teaching students to say ‘no’ confidently, even when they might not feel confident, they can effectively handle peer pressure. In this blog post, we will explore a simple no-prep activity and discussion questions to help students develop these skills.

No-Prep Activity

One way to help students practice handling peer pressure is through role-playing scenarios. This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a scenario where they might face peer pressure. For example, one student could be trying to convince another student to take a toy from a classmate without permission. The students should then act out the scenario, with one student playing the role of the person trying to influence the other and the other student practicing saying ‘no’ or ‘I don’t think so’ confidently. After each group has completed their scenario, have the class come together to discuss what they learned and how they felt during the activity.

Discussion Questions

1. How did you feel when you were trying to say ‘no’ to the person trying to influence you? Did you find it difficult or easy?
2. What are some ways you can show confidence when saying ‘no’ to peer pressure, even if you don’t feel confident?
3. How can you identify if someone is a real friend or just trying to pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do?
4. What should you do if you’ve tried saying ‘no’ but the person continues to pressure you?
5. Why is it important to learn how to handle peer pressure at a young age?

Related Skills

Teaching students to handle peer pressure is one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that educators can focus on include:

• Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others can lead to more supportive and compassionate interactions with peers.
• Assertiveness: Teaching students to express their feelings, needs, and opinions in a respectful and confident manner can help them navigate difficult situations.
• Problem-solving: Encouraging students to think critically and find solutions to conflicts or challenges can empower them to handle various situations independently.
• Resilience: Building resilience in students can help them bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change or adversity.

Next Steps

Teaching PreK students to handle peer pressure is an essential aspect of their social-emotional development. To further support your students in this area, consider signing up for free samples of related skill-building materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can provide you with additional activities, strategies, and ideas to help your students grow and thrive in their social interactions.