Sometimes it can be difficult as a parent to be sure adolescents and young adults
are maintaining healthy peer relationships. Because adolescents and young adults spend so much time with their peers, unhealthy peer relationships can take a toll on them. While parents can’t have total control over teen relationships, there are ways to impact their choices and quality of relationships. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health outlined some great ways for parents and guardians to promote healthy peer relationships. Here are a few of those tips:
- Teach friendship skills- Instructing teenagers on ways to meet new people, use conflict resolution, and support good friends.
- Maintain a positive relationship- When parents have positive relationships with their teens, their teens are more likely to have healthy relationships with their peers. A positive parent-teen relationships is “warm, caring, and emotionally open while also setting boundaries…”
- Pay attention to warning signs- if teens are overly secretive about what they’re doing and who they’re with, it might be important to pay closer attention. If you suspect your adolescent or young adult is doing something harmful, it’s best to be assertive and clear when stating concerns and expectations.
These are just a few of the many tips the Department of Health and Human Services had to offer. If you’re interested in learning more, follow this link.
Has there been a time when you weren’t comfortable with your adolescent’s and/or young adult’s peer relationships? How did you handle the situation?