<!-- wp:image {"id":279,"width":200,"height":200,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.parentsforparents.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-Taking-Safety.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-279" width="200" height="200"/></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>PEER PRESSURE</strong><br>Ever wondered how adolescents can behave in a manner contrary to their usual behaviour especially when in a group. Please think about this when you come across news articles about adolescents and youth involved in a crime as a group, which can be as gruesome as assault, rape, robbery or a murder.<br>Parents are responsible for their children till they become adults, logically and legally.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Every child experiences Peer Pressure and there is an intense desire to conform to the peer group, to belong and be accepted.&nbsp; It is the driving force behind many of their actions and decisions. These can include risk-taking behaviour and the initiation of substance abuse.&nbsp;<br>It is unnatural to expect any adolescent to stay away from or not do what the peer group does. The peer group influences the attitudes and beliefs that the adolescent develops. We need to teach our children to be mindful about the rights and wrongs. Saying NO may not be easy for them in such situations. Assertiveness training before they face such situations is very useful.<br>There is so much that can be discussed about this. As parents, there is so much to do. Please do seek guidance if you feel the need to.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>“BUILDING RESILIENCE” - CRUCIAL PROTECTIVE FACTORS</strong><br>Children with higher levels of the following factors are less likely to engage in risky health behaviours. Some of these Protective factors are :</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>A parenting style that is loving and supportive</li><li>High self - esteem&nbsp;</li><li>Coping skills, to cope with anxiety and stress</li><li>Positive relationships with peers</li><li>Healthy involvement in school activities</li><li>Healthy engagement with adults outside the home&nbsp;</li><li>Ability and opportunity to express and discuss their feelings</li><li>Parents who are coping well with life themselves are good role models.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>These Protective factors enhance the Child's resilience to face adversity.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>A resilient child is one who is socially competent, confident, with problem-solving skills, and a sense of purpose and future.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>SUBSTANCE ABUSE</strong><br>Most children at some point in their growing up years are faced with a situation where they have to decide whether to start experimenting with smoking, drinking alcohol, and even drugs.<br>We need to prepare the adolescent in advance, by educating them about substance use, before he/she comes across such a situation with peers. Early initiation of use leads to higher chances of addictions, due to the effect on the developing adolescent brain. Delaying the debut or initiation is one important protective factor. Alcohol and drug use has serious health concerns. Mistakes made due to impaired judgement under the influence of substance can have life-changing implications,&nbsp; such as the risk of motor vehicle accidents.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Adolescents have an intense desire to belong to a peer group and be accepted by them. Prepare your adolescent how to say “No” when offered the first cigarette or alcoholic drink or drug by peers.<br>Parents need to remember that they are looked upon as role models and that adolescents may follow in their footsteps.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>INTERNET SAFETY</strong><br>Internet safety is similar to safety in the physical world. Just as we supervise our child’s activities outdoors, depending on the age of the child, similarly, online supervision is important until you are confident that they have adequate knowledge and maturity to be safe online.<br>Online behaviour should be the same as offline behaviour.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Before giving online access</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol><li>Set the ground rules and limits. You can do this through negotiation.&nbsp;</li><li>Keep the Computer in a place where you can observe.</li><li>Monitor online activity regularly. But don’t spy.&nbsp;</li><li>Teach the child not to give out personal information.&nbsp;</li></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Check your knowledge and learn more to stay updated.&nbsp;<br>How much do you know about the sites your child is visiting or what games they are playing, who they are talking to and have you installed a filter or safety device.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Educate your child about internet/ cyber safety. Share your concerns and the ways to stay safe. And lastly, assure them that if they still face a problem or a bully, they can come and speak to you.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>ADDICTION</strong><br>Addiction refers to repeated behaviours that result in distress and have a negative impact.<br>The two important characteristics of addiction are that the person is just unable to stop and There are withdrawal symptoms on stopping. Addiction is more serious than abuse.<br>Repeated drug use results in the repeated battering of nerve cells and neural pathways get severely affected. These lead to changes in behaviours,&nbsp; The changes can be seen in brain imagery.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The toxicity and side effects of drugs lead to dramatic and significant loss of health.<br>The prefrontal cortex is important for our functioning to enhance activity that we need to reach goals and inhibit irrelevant activities involved in emotional regulation: the volume of the prefrontal cortex is reduced.<br>Drugs are detrimental - personally and financially.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Deep within the brain is the limbic system. It is also known as the primitive brain. It contains the brain reward circuit or pathway.&nbsp;<br>A reward or something linked with reward activates cells in the midbrain. This sets off a chain reaction of activation in the reward circuit.<br>This activation quickly reaches the Nucleus Accumbens that is the brain's pleasure centre.<br>Dopamine is released as a result of this activation.&nbsp; The brain registers all pleasures by this mechanism, whether they originate with a psychoactive drug, a momentary reward, a sexual encounter or a satisfying meal.&nbsp; Addictive drugs flood the Nucleus Accumbens with dopamine. The limbic system structures create memory of the pleasurable experience. The faster and stronger the dopamine affects us, the more likely it is to misuse.&nbsp;<br>In normal circumstances rewards come with time and effort. Drugs provide a shortcut to the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. This leads to addictions.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->