(HealthDay News) -- Quality friendships are crucial in developing your child's personality and self-esteem.
As a child grows older, while parents can no longer select a child's friends, they can arm the child with tools to choose friends wisely.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises:
- Educate your child on what makes a good friend. As children learn that good friends respect others, follow the rules and help those in need, they will gravitate toward better friends.
- Set an example by demonstrating good relationship skills with your partner, and take time to foster close friendships with others.
- Talk with your child about both what it means to be a good friend and what it means to not be a good friend.
- Talk to your child about bullying behavior, so he or she can identify it, steer clear of it or report bullying behavior.
