Parenting Perspective 

Discuss Peer Pressure Openly 

Preparing your child to resist bad influences in groups is an important part of teaching them self-confidence, resilience, and the ability to make wise decisions. You can start by talking to your child about peer pressure, explaining that sometimes others might try to convince them to do something that is not right. You could say, ‘Sometimes, your friends might ask you to do something you know is not good. It is okay to say no, even if you are worried about what they might think.’ 

Build Confidence Through Practice 

Help your child to build their self-confidence so they feel secure in their own decisions. Encourage them to trust their instincts and to remember that they are not alone; you and other supportive adults are there to help them make good choices. Role-playing different situations where your child might face peer pressure can help them to practise saying ‘no’ or standing firm in their beliefs. For example, you could say, ‘Let us pretend your friends ask you to skip school. How would you say no kindly but firmly?’ 

Encourage Positive Friendships 

Teach your child to find and spend time with friends who share similar values. Encourage them to build friendships based on respect, kindness, and mutual support. Help them to understand that true friends respect each other’s choices and support each other’s well-being. Praise your child when they stand firm in their beliefs and make good choices in group situations, reinforcing the idea that being true to themselves is something to be proud of. Lastly, make sure your child knows that they can always come to you for guidance. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, resisting negative influences and standing firm in one’s beliefs is highly emphasised. Allah Almighty reminds us in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verse 63: 

‘And the true servants of the One Who is Most Beneficent are those who, wander around the Earth with humility; and when they are addressed by the ignorant people, they say: “peace be unto you.”’ 

This verse teaches us to stay calm, respectful, and resolute in the face of negative behaviour, and to choose the right path, even when others try to lead us astray. 

The holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also exemplified resisting peer pressure and maintaining integrity. It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2378, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

‘A person is on the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at whom he takes as a friend.’ 

This Hadith teaches us the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who influence us positively. By helping your child to resist bad influences in groups, you are teaching them to align their behaviour with the Islamic principles of righteousness, self-respect, and faith.