Every parent wants their child to build strong relationships and friendships that have a positive impact on their health and well-being. It’s not always easy to make friends, and this can be a source of worry and anxiety for parents as their kids prepare to start high school or college. In this guide, we’ll outline some top tips to help teens forge positive relationships. 

Encourage and facilitate socialization

Parents want to spend quality time with their kids, especially if they’re preparing to fly the nest, but it’s also important to try to facilitate socialization outside of your family network. Some teens are much more sociable than others and they gravitate toward others without even thinking about it. For others, it can be hard to make new friends and feel comfortable in social situations. As a parent, you can help by encouraging your teen to meet new people and making it possible for them to interact with others by helping them to get involved in activities and events. As your teen gears up for college, it’s a great idea to look for events they can attend to meet other new starters and to look for social media groups they can join to make friends before the semester begins. 

Find like-minded souls

It’s incredibly beneficial for adults and children of all ages to try to establish relationships with people who have shared interests and passions. Encourage your teen to find like-minded souls. This may involve going to camps or clubs that are dedicated to sports or doing a Christian discipleship course online. It may mean joining online groups to talk about specific genres of music or literature or going to events that celebrate a love of art, film or history, for example. Whatever your teen is interested in, look for ways to help them connect with people who have similar interests. 

Communicate openly and build confidence

One of the most worrying aspects of a child going away to college for a parent is them getting in with the wrong crowd or spending time with people who have a negative impact on their mental health. It’s impossible to control relationships at college, but there are steps you can take to try to protect your child. Communicate openly with them and give them the confidence to help them make decisions about how they want to spend their time and who they want to connect with. Help them to understand what makes a good friend and encourage them to talk to you if they have concerns or they’re not happy. There is often a lot of pressure to fit in. Chat with your teen, speak to them about the challenges they may face and support them as they learn to make judgments. 

Going to college is a major step for teens and their parents. One common concern is establishing relationships and making new friends. It can be difficult to find the right crowd and build a circle of trusted friends. If your teen is gearing up to start college, it’s hugely beneficial to help them to build positive relationships.