HELPING TEENS BUILD A GOOD FRIENDSHIP
For adolescents, relationships with peers is very important. Make
new friends, play with friends, and keep the friendship is so
important, sometimes exceed the importance of parents and siblings.
Three Forms of Friendship (*)
First, friendship is like an anchor: Your friend the firm, stable, and reliable. But maybe it will hinder you to do things you want or what you should be doing.
Both friendships are like buoys: Your friend is there when you need it. He is a source of help in time of trouble, someone interesting you do positive things.
Third, friendships like snares: Your friend may be fun in the association, but he could be dragged into a variety of problems.
Bible agree that friends are important. In fact, many parts of the Bible talk about the influence of friends. How important we are careful in choosing friends because of their huge influence. There is an English saying "birds of feather flock together". Observe carefully how a teen friendly, then you will know which way he''s grown and how it goes later. The life of a teenager is formed by and with whom he is using his time. When
we long to spend time with someone, it is not long before the
attitudes, values, and even our thinking about God will be the same with
our friends.
Most of the problems caused by the handling of the situation adolescent daily done wrong. Problems can also arise due to the fact that "friend" is something that is very important in the lives of adolescents. Through his friends, teenagers can practice and experiment on social behavior. Through their friendship can refine the behavior so that more can be accepted by society. For teens, a friend is a means of support in the atmosphere that can make them feel safe. Teens require a strong and sincere friendship. A friend can be a tool he needed.
When Friendship plunges
Because friends so important for our youth, we should avoid conflict with them in this area. We need to remember the teen years yet. Maybe we had been repeatedly counseled parents about friends and relationships that are not healthy. How do we feel when told their parents first?
When you feel the need to remind teens about relationships, first build a good relationship with him. After that, take the time to think about this chat. Do not just occasionally. Try to have a regular time to talk about this friend.
Discuss with her the importance of camaraderie and friendship. Help her to understand that good friends have character traits such as honesty, sincerity, courtesy, aggressiveness, etc.. Ask your teen to assess honestly as possible the people who used to play with him.
While
you both explore the character traits and his friends try to make him
ponder whether his friends were healthy for him or not. Are they influenced him to do good? Or they dragged him into a variety of problems?
Discuss with your teen, three forms of friendship above. Who is in the category of the anchor? Who would like a buoy? Who is the trap? Do
a role play / role play with your teen, such as "What if this happened
to you?" Or "What would you do in this situation?" This is a great way
to get into the mind of a teenager.
Diskusidan Negotiations
This is the key along with teenagers. When our children enter their teens, it''s a sign he''s starting a teenager, not a child anymore. Therefore, it is not the time to talk with him in a way the kids first. Teens need to be respected as he is. He was glad that the parents asked for his opinion.
I remember when the left Josephus elementary and junior high. She has some new friends in the neighborhood. When the second half as he entered his friendship refinement accelerated classes. His group had only six young men. So it is understandable when everywhere they always sixes.
The problem arises when it turns out my friends Jo, although there are in-class acceleration, the online gaming enthusiasts. We began to fret. How Jo can move forward together as friends?
At first we should let he played an hour a week with friends at weekends. After a long time they play every day. Jo began to ignore our rules. Saved his pocket money to play the game.
Fortunately, Jo still appreciate God. He did not leave the family altar moments. We maintain good relations with him and continue to instill values in his life. We discussed the word and value with Jo. We learn to negotiate and make a deal. Finally, the tension was finished well after six months.
When
Jo entered high school and meet new friends who loved the game, he does
not need much time to assess what kind of friends they were. He formed a new peer-group prefers good music, sports, and other activities in a more constructive. That''s what formed him until now.
Involve God
It is important to invite teens to think that God is too concerned with friendship. Help your child to see how he can grow a friendship with God as well. Where is God''s role in guiding our children define a good friend?
Convince yourself to help your teen to look upon God as a source of friendship. Make
sure that your child also invite Him into their lives and give them
wisdom in choosing friends, including friendships in the process.