Friends

When You Don't Like Your Child's Friend

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed.
—Anonymous

You hate to admit it, but your child has a friend you don’t like.

Getting to Know Your Child's Friends

All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.
—Earvin “Magic” Johnson, American professional basketball player

Who are your child’s friends?

When You Worry about Your Children's Friends

_When I recognized that my daughter’s best friend came from a family whose choices and lifestyle were very different from ours, I made sure to let Desiree know she was a special part of OUR family as

Encouraging Positive Relationships

Betty Wong of Family Circle talks about when parents should get involved in their child's friend choices.

Ideas for Parents: Positive Peer Influence

Learn how to encourage your child to form friendships that model positivity and responsibility.

Friends: Summary and Next Steps

Find valuable resources regarding your child’s friends.

When You're Worried about Your Child's Friend

There are many reasons you may become worried about your child’s friend—but no matter the cause, there are things you can do to make the situation better.

Getting to Know Your Child's Friends

By getting to know your child’s friends, you can gain some insight into the relationships that your child is involved in—and keep an eye on those relationships to make sure they stay positive.

Encouraging Positive Relationships

Kids will meet new people, join new groups, change friends, and develop new relationships many times before they truly find the group they “fit” with. And although you can’t choose your children’s friends, you can have a positive influence on the relationships they make throughout their formative years.

Choosing Friends

All children go through many phases with their friends, and everyone has to choose their friends while they’re growing up—talk to your child to make sure that he or she makes good decisions when choosing friends.