Children can make friends very quickly. Many parents fail to get involved about bad influences until it’s too late. Because of that, we must teach them early on about the importance of choosing the right friends. While you may not be able to choose their friends directly, however, you can teach them how to choose wisely. It is invaluable to teach children what a good friend, rather than make the decision for them.
Start by asking your kids to make a list of the qualities that they think make-up a “good friend”.
Encourage your children to choose friends who will respect them. Emphasize that if most of the answers are “yes”, the friendship is likely to be a positive one. Unfortunately, if most of the answers are “no”, it could lead to a toxic relationship. When they make a new friend, go over the questions of what make a good friend.
The most important element of friendship is not only to have good friends but to be a good friend. Teach your child to be the kind of person they’d like their friends to be. Friendships are an important part of life. We all have them, and we all need them. Helping your child on the journey of how to choose the right friends can help them grow everlasting friendships.
