Want to make sure your child always makes the right choices when it comes to alcohol, cigarettes and drugs? Boost their self-confidence. According to child expert Dr. Neil Izenburg, self-confidence is a child’s best defense against peer pressure. So, courtesy of the website Parents .com, here are 3 tips for raising confident kids:

• Let your child make mistakes. Your instinct to protect your child from embarrassment actually hurts them - because they never learn to cope on their own. It’s not easy, but you need to remember that when it comes time to make tough decisions you won’t always be around.  
• Set a good example. If you're turned down for a job, take it in stride. And when your child has trouble, share a humorous story about a similar experience. Seeing you laugh at your old embarrassments gives kids perspective on their own mistakes.  
• You’ll raise more confident kids if you encourage them to help others. Studies show that there’s a strong link between self-confidence and taking care of younger siblings - or volunteering at places like soup kitchens.

To sum up, if you set a good example, let your child make mistakes, and give them a chance to help other people - you’ll wind up with a teenager who has the confidence to say ‘no’ to cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.