"My child has found himself a bad company!" - this phrase is often heard from parents. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for children to find themselves in bad company. It is even worse when they begin to change not for the better: they communicate less with their parents, speak rudely, and do not have time at school.
How to find out about a teenage child's connection with bad company
Not all the friends a teenager associates with should be considered unfit. For example, if guys are walking around in torn jeans, singing songs with a guitar all night, they have tattoos, this does not mean that they are bad. In adolescence, children try to stand out from their peers, this is natural.
It is worth worrying when the child:
- afraid to introduce you to his friends;
- comes home beaten;
- it smells of alcohol and cigarettes;
- misses lessons at school;
- starts to lie;
- becomes withdrawn.
Why teens mess with bad friends
During adolescence, children face two challenges that need to be addressed: to learn to live independently and independently, and to find their place in society.
How the child will solve the assigned tasks and in which team depends on the initial data, which are the family and the parental home. The reason why children get involved with bad company should be looked for here. This could be:
- Resentment. When children are offended, they may associate with bad companions in spite of their parents. The reason for the resentment can be different: unfair punishment, bad attitude, or something else.
- Lack of attention. When children do not have enough parental attention, they try to get it in any way. One of the most common is disobedience. A teenager listens to music loudly, throws dirty socks around the room. For this he may be scolded, but attention will still not be received.
- Defending your point of view. When the family does not listen to the child's opinion, his self-esteem begins to fall. Then he looks for a company where his opinion will be taken into account.
How to get a teen out of bad company
The child himself chose this company, so forcibly prohibiting communication with it will not work. It will only get worse. It is necessary that he himself want to leave it. And for this, the above reasons must be eliminated.
You need to communicate more with your child. Interested in his life, but not trying to control it. Better to just give advice, arguing it, but not imposing. A teenager should consider himself equal to adults.
It is necessary to discuss family issues with the child, to listen to his opinion. And if he is wrong, then it must be justified so that he understands. The teenager needs to feel that the family is listening to him.
You can also enroll a child in a section or circle. He will not only be busy with business, but will also find new friends. Then the search for bad company will disappear by itself.
