Parents can help students connect to their peers:

Here are some ways that parents can support their kids and help them to connect with their peers in helpful, rather than hurtful, ways:

• Be a good friendship role model yourself.

• Teach your child how to make friends and manage conflict in non-aggressive ways. For further assistance, ask your pediatric office, local library, or bookstore for recommended parenting resources.

• Help your child put rejection in perspective by sharing personal examples from your life. You can also use children's stories to generate thoughtful discussions about this issue with your child in a safe social setting.
 
• If your child needs help with a particular friendship issue, describe a behavior you respect and help him/her come up with a plan to address that issue in a positive, respectful way.

• Focus on the quality, rather than the quantity, of your child's friendships. Researchers report it takes one good friend to get a child through tough social times.

• Foster friendships outside of school by encouraging your child to meet other children who share similar extracurricular interests and activities.