There is an old saying, show me your friends and I know you. Well it’s true like the Bible says, “bad associations spoil useful habits.” I Corinthians 15:33 But children do not know a bad associate from a good one, or do they? Well, I advocate that we choose the first friendships, take a look at the family structure, the values, the parenting style as well what goals have been stated or unstated for the proposed friendship with a new child, these are important milestones or markers.
This is a common question for parents, and it is hard to know what to do, but generally we can aim for a balance, leaning toward allowing our children to choose their own friends as they grow older.
It’s advocated that the parent role is one of guiding and supervision.
The parent’s primary role is supervision, guidance, and setting boundaries to ensure our child’s well-being. This role shifts as our child gets older.
For Younger Children – approximately-Toddlers to Early Elementary
We have more control here because social interactions often happen under our watch, so we need to focus on the environment and facilitating positive interactions. For example:
• Focus on environment: Choose structured environments (playgroups, school, sports) where interactions are generally supervised and safe.
• Facilitate positive interactions: Encourage playdates with children whose parents you trust and whose families share similar values.
What do you think? Comment below.
Jacqueline Levermore is a mom and author of Cherub- The Human Race. When she is not busy writing she enjoys singing, exercising and reading.