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Teach Kids To Choose Friends Wisely
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Support your child's social development. Teach your child how to form positive relationships. Research shows that the pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs comes most often from wanting to be accepted, wanting to belong, and wanting to be noticed. Help your child learn what qualities to look for in a friend, and advise him* about what to say if offered harmful substances. Children who have difficulty making friends need your support to avoid being isolated or bullied. This section offers information and tips to support your child's social skills and development at a time when he is making important decisions that will affect his whole life.

Latest Articles

  • Making Friends in Middle School
    Making good grades probably tops your list of goals for your middle school student, but making friends is also important.

  • Steer Your Teen Away From Marijuana
    “Hey, can I borrow the car keys?” If you’re the parent or caregiver of a teen who has reached driving age, you may hear this request more often than you would like. But a recent study might make you stop and think before you hand the keys to your teen driver.

  • Bullying Escalates for Middle School Kids
    Many adults know that middle school is a time of change but they may not understand the full extent of the many challenges kids face.

  • Keeping Kids Out of Trouble
    Parents often are challenged to find safe, properly supervised activities for their children after school and during weekends, vacations, and summer break—times when kids may be on their own.

  • Left Out
    Most children at some point in their lives experience being excluded from a party or suddenly being ignored by friends. Being rejected or repeatedly ignored are painful for a child. As a parent, what can you do to help your child deal with exclusion from a group or social event?

  • Bullying Affects All Elementary School Kids
    Elementary school is an exciting time for children and parents. Going off to school, making friends, participating in activities—there’s a lot happening! As children interact with each other, they develop important social skills. Learning how to interact positively with peers and other people takes practice. On the other hand, some youth try to look tough, be a big shot, or hurt other kids.

  • High Online: Kids Accessing Drugs on the Internet!
    Legislators and law enforcement are finding new ways to address drugs in cyberspace. But parents and caring adults must be on the alert to ensure that their kids don’t buy drugs online or obtain them from other kids who are buying them online. After all, even if your child doesn’t have Web access, nearly 69 percent of youth ages 10 to 14 and 80 percent of youth ages 15 to 17 do have access.

  • PARENTS...Countering The Problem Of Tween Drinking
    Many parents don’t realize how much they can change or improve their children’s lives, especially for tweens. However, parental involvement can be the safety net that protects tweens from drinking during the preteen years—years that can be confusing and difficult.

  • Peer Pressure: Good or Bad?
    Kids say, “I want one, too.” Teenagers insist, “I gotta have it; everyone else does.” Adults call it “peer pressure.”

  • Parents, Parties, and Preventing Underage Alcohol Use
    Would you let your teenage son drink beer at his best friend’s birthday party? Would you let your daughter attend a graduation party where wine would be available to underage kids? What if a parent were chaperoning these events?



* We refer to a child as "him" in some places and "her" in others. We do this for easier reading. All information applies to both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.