Teens will find themselves in a position where they need social interaction. If we are to believe that no man is an island than we must apply that to the case of a teenager who will go out of his or her way to be friends with someone to compensate for a lack of social interaction at home. Often times, the teenager will take part in illicit activities just to gain the acceptance of others. Knowing that they can find themselves being completely ostracized at both home and school if they don’t conform. Teenagers will resort to whatever it takes to maintain friendships whether they agree with it or not. They will willingly accept the beliefs of others and given the fact that they are so impressionable at this age, this can be a very dangerous thing. It is up to the parents or guardians of teenagers to serve as a moral compass of sorts and try to be there to point out what is right and wrong. It is easy for the parent/teenager relationship to slip through the cracks due to the aforementioned circumstances so it is imperative for the parent to make an effort to try and spend time with their child and try to point them in the right direction or at the very least, offer them insight on how they can do it on their own.

Parents must be willing to set boundaries and enforce certain rules pertaining to what they feel is in the best interest of their children. A teen’s personality is still very much a work in progress so it is up to the parents to exercise their better judgment and put it into play. Parents should let their teenage son or daughter know that they can talk to them whenever they need to and about whatever they want. The parent must make themselves accessable to the teen or else risk the repercussions that may come as the result of the latter giving into peer pressure. It is up to the parent to help guide the teenager and make them aware of the potential difficulties that they will face during these years. The parent should try and help the teenager differentiate when peer pressure is steering them in the wrong direction and when it may be socially acceptable. At the same time, the parent can help the teen determine on their own whether or not the people he or she is associating with are worthwhile friends.