Nurturing Healthy Peer Relationships: A Guide for Parents

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Nurturing Healthy Peer Relationships: A Guide for Parents

Alex Koupal • July 18, 2024

Positive Social Interactions Can Boost Self-Esteem

Peer relationships are crucial for teens' social development. Positive friendships can boost self-esteem and provide emotional support, while negative influences can lead to risky behaviors. According to research published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, peer relationships significantly impact teens' psychological well-being and development.

Encouraging Open Communication

Encouraging open discussions about friendships and peer pressure can help teens navigate these relationships effectively. Discuss the qualities of healthy friendships and the importance of mutual respect and support. Encourage your teen to seek friends who have similar values and interests.

Qualities of Healthy Friendships: Research suggests that healthy friendships are characterized by trust, respect, and support. According to a study in the Journal of Adolescence, adolescents who have positive friendships report higher levels of well-being and lower levels of anxiety and depression .

Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is a common concern for teens. Openly discussing peer pressure and helping teens develop assertiveness skills can empower them to make positive choices. Research published in Child Development indicates that teaching teens how to resist peer influence can reduce their likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.

Supporting Social Activities with Boundaries

Supporting their social activities while setting boundaries can promote healthy interactions. Allow your teen to spend time with friends, but be aware of who they are with and what they are doing. Foster an environment where they feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns about their peers.

Supervised Socializing: Providing opportunities for supervised socializing can help ensure your teen's safety while still allowing them to socialize with their peers. Organizing group outings or inviting friends over to your home allows you to monitor their activities while fostering a sense of independence.

Setting Boundaries: Clearly communicate your expectations regarding curfew, alcohol and drug use, and other risky behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), setting clear and consistent boundaries is an effective way to reduce teens' risk of engaging in substance abuse and other risky behaviors.

Concerned about your teen's peer relationships? Find support by scheduling a free 30-minute parental support call. Book now to learn effective strategies for nurturing healthy peer relationships and supporting your teen's social development.

By fostering open communication, encouraging positive friendships, and setting appropriate boundaries, parents can help their teens navigate peer relationships with confidence and resilience.

Sources:

Journal of Youth and Adolescence: Research on the impact of peer relationships on teens' psychological well-being and development.

Journal of Adolescence: Study on the qualities of healthy friendships and their impact on adolescent well-being.

Child Development: Research on teaching teens to resist peer influence and reduce risky behaviors.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Information on setting boundaries to reduce teens' risk of engaging in substance abuse and other risky behaviors.

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Tiktok, Social Media & Teens: How to guide without just saying, "Get off your phone!"

By Alex Koupal • April 9, 2025

Let’s be real: telling teens to “get off your phone!” doesn’t work. Social media is part of their world. For our teens, social media is how they connect, learn, and express themselves. So how can we help them use it wisely without sounding and being the villain? There’s a way to help them navigate social media mindfully, and no, it doesn’t involve a complete ban. 1. Start the Conversation, Not the Battle Instead of becoming the enemy and banning social media out of the blue, talk to your teen about what they’re doing on it. Is it for learning, creativity, or just entertainment? Understanding their “why” helps guide them to use it more purposefully. 2. Set Healthy Boundaries Together Instead of enforcing rules, involve your teen in setting healthy screen-time limits. It gives them ownership and responsibility over their habits. For example, “I’ll spend 30 minutes scrolling up on TikTok after school, and then I’ll switch to doing homework” can be a much better strategy than enforcing a rigid rule that feels like punishment. When your teen has a say in the boundaries, they’re more likely to stick to them. 3. Be a Role Model What adults do, Teens do! If we’re glued to our phones, constantly checking social media, it sends the message that it’s okay to get lost in the digital world. Model healthy habits, like setting phone-free times, taking social media breaks, or just being present during family time. Show them how to use social media in a balanced way by setting phone-free times and modeling healthy habits. 4. Encourage Real-Life Activities Social media is great for staying in touch, but it can never replace real-life experiences. Encourage hobbies, sports, or family time to keep them grounded. This way, they can create a well-rounded life that isn’t centered solely around the screen. Plus, those real-world experiences will give them something to post about on their feed! 5. Be Their Guide, Not Their Warden At the end of the day, we can’t control everything teens do online. But we can provide guidance, support, and resources to help them use social media in a positive and mindful way. Keep the lines of communication open and encourage them to have trusted mentors—whether it’s a teacher, coach, older cousin, or life coach—who can provide advice beyond just Mom or Dad. If you’re worried about your teen’s social media habits, let’s talk! Book a free parent support session.