We all know that sometimes friends and peers can have just as large an impact as parents on the choices our children make. What they wear and the things they do are often influenced by peer pressure and the strong desire to fit in or be popular. Spending time with children and addressing the issues and ways to resist peer pressure is often difficult, but it has incomparable benefits.

Peer pressure has no age limit. It begins when children start school and follows them to adulthood -- until they are independent and secure enough to make their own decisions. Here are some ways to prepare your children for the unforeseen situations they may find themselves.

Form Strong Relationships

If you have a strong relationship with your children they will feel more comfortable coming to you when they are faced with peer pressure. Building this relationship requires more than just lecturing but really listing to what they say and how they feel.

How Do You Feel?

Let your children know how you feel about drugs, drinking, premarital sex, the media and whatever else you feel might be an issue at the time. Studies have shown that children that know how their parents feel about issues are more likely to avoid problems with those issues.

What Do I Say?

Provide your children with alternative responses that they can give when faced with different scenarios. It’s easy to say no when you know how to, so provide you children with the proper ammo to get out of these uncomfortable situations.

Build Them Up 

Children -- especially adolescents with high self esteem -- are more likely to have the ability to say no and walk away from uncomfortable situations. Help your child build this confidence by praising them often, helping them perceive themselves in a positive manner, and avoid criticizing them.

Know Who They Are

Make an effort to know your children’s friends and their interests.. This will provide you with better insight of the types of situations that your child will face. If you know that one of their friends is smoking, chances are that your child has been tempted to try it as well.

Helping your children to confront peer pressure will help them avoid making poor decisions. It is never too early to begin talking with them about it. and if you don’t know where to start there’s always the question, “If your friend jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?”

Have you started talking to your children or adolescents about peer pressure and the negative impact it can have on them? Find out what other moms are doing and saying to keep their children on the road to success.