Issue of friends is a tough one

@ellie26 (4139)
Malaysia
April 18, 2007 2:32am CST
My 13 year old niece hangs around with a negative group of kids her age. A couple of boys do drugs. Her girl friends get in trouble in school. How can I help her avoid these type of friends?
1 person likes this
4 responses
dream2night
@dream2night (624)
• Latvia
18 Apr 07
It is hard, because it is the age when kids resoect their friends more than parents and other grownups. I think most imporatnt thing for them is always know that it doesn't matter what kind of stupid thing they have done - they always have home to come back and to find support.
1 person likes this
dream2night
@dream2night (624)
• Latvia
7 May 07
Thank you!!!!!!!
livingforthelord
@livingforthelord (63)
• United States
18 Apr 07
is your neice a out going person who can make friends where ever she is? sometimes teens stay with there friends one to be cool or maybe she doesnt have any one else to hang out with. i know my cousin had this problem. if shes in extra activites after school she wont have time to hang out with them to much and make new friends. anything sports, clubs, cheerleading it might help. the more busy she is after school and the less she will be around them and around other people.
1 person likes this
judyt00
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
18 Apr 07
Unless you have custody of her, butt out! She has enough problems with her parents pushing her. If you want to help, be her friend, take her places where her bad friends aren't and show her how to live properly. And don't nag or scold her for her choices.
Ellie
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
18 Apr 07
I cant butt out because I love her so much. I dont have a daughter so that is why I treated her like my own daughter. Our relationship is like best friends but the only problem is she likes to hang out with her own age group.
1 person likes this
judyt00
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
18 Apr 07
there is a difference between can't and won't. Seems to me like you don't trust your sib's parenting skills. And ofcourseshe wants tohangaround with herfriends, they won'tgo tattle to her mother when shedoes something you don't like. Let thekid grow up, and get on with her life. Her parents are well aware of their child's problems and don't need you second guessing them.
mwalidji
@mwalidji (200)
• Philippines
7 May 07
why not try to divert her attention to other things... like books, movies and games...
Ellie
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
7 May 07
I have done that before. I brought her to movies, I played scrabble with her and even introduced her so many motivational books but to no avail. Her interest in these are all short-lived.