Hi – Sue Blaney here with your Parenting Tip from Parenting Teens Info.com

My parenting tip this week is:
Guide your teenager to be a good friend. >>Listen

Let’s face it, your teenager’s friends are an important part of his life. There is a lot attached to your child’s social life… Her relationships impact her own self-esteem and confidence; and his group of friends influences his interests, values and how he spends his time. Through friendships teenagers learn about empathy, honesty and trust. They learn to be less self-centered and to be accepting of other people, including their flaws.

But we all know that adolescents sometimes have tumultuous social lives and the ever changing loyalties can be difficult for parents to know how to handle.

For much of this, parents should simply remain interested and provide an even keel. You can guide your teen to be a good friend, you can interject common sense and morals into situations, and when appropriate, provide humor to lighten things up.

Parents, you can guide teenagers, but don’t over-do your involvement in your teenager’s social life. Be available to talk about friendships, but don’t push too hard to make her talk if she isn’t ready. If your child is facing some problems with friends she may need a little emotional distance before she wants to talk about it with you. You can help him brainstorm possible solutions, and ask him what outcome he wants to see. When in doubt, listen rather than act. Do not intervene in your child’s friendship issues without discussing it with her. And don’t confuse your social support group with hers!

As you teach your teenager to be a good friend, focus on providing guidance and on modeling the kind of supportive friendships you hope your child will develop for life.

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Til next time…I'm Sue Blaney.

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