Friends: An Introduction

As a parent, you want to make sure that your child maintains positive relationships with her or his friends, but you also don’t want to seem intrusive by closely monitoring all of your child’s friendships. How do you create a balance?

Did You Know?

• Almost three out of four teenagers (72 percent) say they are good at making and keeping friends.
• Friends are often positive influences in children’s lives. In fact, 65 percent of teenagers surveyed by Search Institute say that their best friends model responsible behavior.
• Sixty-four percent of parents surveyed say they spend time each day getting to know their child’s friends. ¹

Because your child’s friends play such an important role in his or her life, it’s crucial that you do what you can to make sure that those relationships are positive ones. By staying informed and involved in your child’s life, you can ensure that you’re able to encourage positive relationships and help steer negative ones to a positive direction.