Raising a child to be independent and open minded is the dream for most parents. But the dreaded stage is when they get into new groups of friends and feel the need to impress or change to fit in with their new peers. Sometimes this change can be good but majority of the time, this can lead to them getting involved in the wrong types of activities which every parent wants to avoid for their child. We have compiled a list that can help you as a parent know what to do if that time ever comes.
- Learn to listen. A typical reaction from a parent is to get angry when they hear something they don’t like, but this will always result in your child not wanting to confide in you the next time a problem arises. Even if they are explaining something a friend may have done for example shoplifting, calmly explain the consequences instead of attempting to take full control of the situation.
- Get to know who your child’s friends are. The company you keep says a lot about your character and can mould who you become, so helping your child choose the right friends in cases like in a private school in Amersham, can teach them what a true friend should be like. Encourage instead of creating barriers, which often can lead to retaliation which I’m sure no parent wants.
- Model saying “NO”. Help your child understand that if they are uncomfortable with something or know it’s wrong, it is fine for them to say no and pull themselves out of the situation, regardless of if they get laughed at or teased by peers. This will give them the confidence to make decisions for themselves instead of trying to constantly follow the crowd.