Helping Your Teen Raise the Bar
Having a good standard for people kept in your teen’s inner circle is important. With the standard, they can quickly decide who should be there and rid of those who should not. More importantly, it offers them an opportunity to understanding their own needs in relationships.
Because socializing is such an important part of your teen becoming an adult, it is important they learn who to hang out with and who they should stay away from. One way to teach them is by asking them to make a list of the five things they like about their current relationship with a best friend. This can start the list off easy. 
Now have them name five things they don’t like about their best friend or things they would change that would make that friend perfect. After they’ve done this compare the lists. Ask your teen to evaluate how important the things that would make that friend perfect are to them. For example, if one of the things was makes me feel like I am not a good person. This might be so important that they realize the person is not really a good friend at all. However, if it is they never let me eat junk food well, you might just have a keeper!
Learning how to build a positive and supportive social network begins early. Your teen surrounded by people who want them to do better rather than become jealous when they do better will enable them to succeed. This simple exercise can help your teen become resilient in difficult times and develop a social network not to mention skill that will last and be helpful for a lifetime.
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