Know Your Child's Friends and Their Parents (continued)
Topics: Importance of Peer Relationships, Peer Pressure, Teen Years (13-19), more...
Encourage your children to get involved in activities that match their interests. Trying different activities channels an adolescent's curiosity into things that are safe and fun. Positive activities are good ways to meet friends who have positive attitudes.
A Good Result
You may wonder if any of your guidance is sinking in, but young people listen and absorb more than you think. They are likely to apply your viewpoint to their own friends and social situations. Young people consistently say that their parents are the most important influence in their lives.1
Put It Into Practice
The next time your child has a friend over, invite the friend's parent/guardian over for a cup of coffee. Or, invite his or her family over to play a board game!
Sources
1 Office of National Drug Control Policy. Training of Trainers Workshop 1998. The extended family. Parenting IS Prevention, last referenced 10/18/2002.
Additional Resources
- Institute for Youth Development: Smith, A.M. The Power of Peers
- Ohio State University Extension: Sachs, S.L. Monitoring: Staying Involved in Your Teen's Life
- 1
-
2
Reprinted with the permission of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Take Action
- this article with friends and family.
- Have a question about Importance of Peer Relationships? Ask it here.
- Publish your work on education.com.
