By the time a child begins middle school, friendships take center stage. As children pull away from their parents, they place more and more importance on their relationships with their peers. But middle school friendships can prove to be difficult, every now and then. Here's how to help your tween troubleshoot difficult friendships, and make the most of peer relationships.
1. Help Your Tween Make and Keep Friends
If your child is having trouble making friends, you can help. While you can't make your child's friends for him, you can teach him how to approach other children, and put his best foot forward.
2. Understanding Friendships and Peer Pressure
Peer pressure tends to escalate during the tween years as children attempt to fit in and bond with their school mates. Not all peer pressure is bad, but you need to know what you're up against should your child feel pressured to smoke, drink, or break your family rules.
3. Look Out for Bullying
Bullying behavior tends to peak during the middle school years, and many students who are bullied are so embarrassed that they refuse to tell an adult. It's important to know the signs of bullying, so that you can help your child overcome and diffuse the situation.
4. How to Spot a Frenemy
It's possible that one of your child's "friends" isn't a friend at all. Frenemies pretend friendship, but turn on their "friends" at a moment's notice. Help your child spot these toxic friends, to make room for supportive, and healthy friendships.
5. What Makes a True Friend?
Tweens don't need dozens of friends to be happy - a few true friends will help your child through difficult moments, and support him through the ups and downs of middle school. But what makes a true friend?
6. Spot the Mean Girls
Middle school can be especially difficult for girls, especially if they run into the class mean girl. Knowing how to spot mean girls, and other bullies, is the first step to avoiding them.
7. Academic Achievement and Peer Relationships
Did you know your child's friendships can affect his academic achievement? It's true, there is a link between academic achievement and peer acceptance. But your child doesn't have to be the most popular kid in school to be a good student. Here's how your child's friendships affect school performance.
