Wanting to be popular is as natural as breathing. Having friends makes middle school students feel accepted. But many parents worry about their kids doing dangerous things to fit in with their peers.

How can you help your child deal with negative peer pressure? Try these tips:

Strengthen Family Ties - Like everyone else, middle graders need love and acceptance. How can you support your child? Spend time together. Point out their strengths and listen to them.

Set Clear Rules - Let your child know where you stand on important issues. Clear guidelines and consequences help kids do the right thing.

Share Your Experience - Let your child know about the pressures you face - and how you handle them.

Middle school is a very difficult time for many students and parents. Helping your middle school student deal with negative peer pressure takes a lot of patience and understanding. Hopefully, the above tips will help you navigate through these challenging but meaningful years.

If you’ve decided that your friends don’t have your best interests at heart, search out new friends who share your values and interests.

Remember that you are important. Your life counts and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, please contact your school counselor. We’re here for you.