What are your teens getting up to?

Peer pressure
All teenagers come up against peer pressure. Even adults come up against pressure at work and from friends so you can expect more of this for your teen. Peer pressure takes many forms: from more subtle coercion, to daring each other to do things, to actual bullying.

It's important to discuss peer pressure with your teen and talk about the various forms it might take: from pushing curfew boundaries, to the pressure to shoplift, take drugs, drink, and have sex amongst other things. When discussing such scenarios, ask them how they might handle it. By getting them to think of the responses they could use against peer pressure you'll help promote their confidence.

An important antidote to peer pressure is encouraging individuality in your teen. The stronger their self-belief, the more confident they'll be in the face of peer pressure to conform.

Body piercings and tattoos
With everyone from movie stars to football players having tattoos and piercings your teen is very likely to go through a stage where they want some form of 'body adornment'.

As with all such discussions explore what exactly it is they want and why. Ask them to go through a cooling-off period of a couple weeks and then to reconsider it. Then try giving them some leeway on an area like the clothes they choose so you've got more leeway to say 'No' to more extreme trends.

Remember that tattoos are against the law for anyone under 18 and a reputable tattoo parlour will make them show ID. A useful general contact is www.parentlineplus.co.uk

Dr Pam Spurr is the Saturday evening presenter on LBC 97.3 - ring her on 0870-90-90-973, 7-10 pm. And the author of SEX, GUYS & CHOCOLATE - Your Essential Guide to Lust, Love and Life (Robson £7.99). A life coaching guide for all women ages 16-56.

More from Dr Pam Spurr:
Broadening your teen's horizons
Teens at home