To better understand
Relationships with friends change and evolve between childhood and adulthood. Whether a teenager has a lot of friends or just a few, friendships become very important during this stage of life.
Outside of family, friends are a teenager’s main reference point—people with whom to share information and experiment with behaviours, values and ideas. Together, teenage friends learn how to become adults.
Teenagers develop a sense of belonging to their circle of friends, who become like a second family. Their desire to fit in and act and think like their friends can be very intense. Young people are more susceptible to peer pressure around the middle of their teenage years, a time when their need for independence from their parents and their sense of belonging to a group are at their strongest. As we know, peer pressure can be either positive or negative. Naturally, the experiences they have with their friends will shape the way they act and interact with others later on.
That is why it is so important that teenagers learn social skills and develop the ability to manage social influences. First and foremost, these skills help them maintain good friendships. They also promote good mental health, not to mention prevent behavioural disorders, substance use problems, risky sexual behaviour, violence, and dropping out of school. As a parent, you have a role to play!
Development of friendships in adolescence
To better support
Tips and tricks
Let your teen use you as an excuse for saying no!
You might also agree on a code word that you and your teen can use in situations where they feel uncomfortable or unable to say no to their friends. If they say the code word, it means they want you to go pick them up or tell them they are not allowed to do the thing for which they are asking permission.
In short
- Outside of their family members, friends are a young person’s guidepost. Together, they learn how to become adults.
- During adolescence, parents still hold sway when it comes to their teen learning social skills and the ability to manage social influences. Along with friends, they play an important role in their teen’s physical and mental health, not to mention their academic success!
Practical resources and tools
1. For support :
Are you dealing with a situation that worries you? Ask for help:
If you fear for your teen’s or your own safety, call 911 or your local police department.
The police can also be a helpful resource, especially for preventing gang activity, violence, bullying, delinquency, and other offences.
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