Navigating Teen Relationships: Peers (Part 1 of a 4 Part Series)
by Lorraine Connell founder of Peers not Fears, Teen Leadership Coach
The teenage years are crucial for developing relationships that shape one’s identity and future interactions. This series aims to provide parents with insights and strategies to help teens navigate relationships with peers, dating partners, parents, and friends. In each post of this series, I will share resources tailored to each type of relationship. It is not an easy task, as relationships become more complex during these years, and our kids often share less information with us. As a teen leadership coach, I understand firsthand how challenging these years can be. I needed these resources for myself as a teen and now as a parent of teenagers.
The Challenges Teens Face in Relationships With Their Peers
Peer relationships in middle and high school are highly influential. Every teen wants to belong, and sometimes they will go to great lengths to feel accepted. However, the group they belong to might not be the one they or we, as parents desire. This dynamic is challenging for both teens and parents. The pressure to belong and be accepted can lead to behaviors such as acting out, trying new things, or shutting down entirely. These behaviors are often responses to the complex social dynamics at play.
How My Resources Can Help
Exploring Integrity
When working with teens in the leadership cohort, one of the most impactful activities we have is a discussion about integrity. We explore what integrity means and the challenges associated with it. Discussing integrity helps teens reflect on their behavior by sharing experiences they've witnessed. It provides a safe space to evaluate what they would want done for them in similar situations, fostering empathy, awareness, and kindness.
Group Discussions
This activity is most effective in a group setting, where teens can hear and learn from each other. We start with a question like: "You walk into the cafeteria and see another student sitting alone. None of your friends think twice about it, but you do. What do you do?" They don’t have to act on what they say they would do, but thinking about it initiates the integrity conversation. This discussion is invaluable, and I love facilitating it. I know they will think about their peers differently the next time they enter the cafeteria. What they do is up to them, but they will have to consider their actions, which is more than most students do. You can have some of these conversations with your teen to plant the seed of giving them tools to work with. What would you do if...
Create your list, sign up for the Anticipating Uncomfortable Situations Resource, or sign up for the Teen Leadership Cohort.
Anticipating Uncomfortable Situations Resource: This guided activity provides an opportunity for your teen to consider how they might react to various social challenges, such as approaching someone sitting alone in the cafeteria or resolving a conflict with a friend.
Info Session: Join our next info session to see if your teen is ready to join the Young Teen Leadership Cohort. By participating, your teen will engage in meaningful discussions and activities that help them navigate their relationships with integrity and empathy. These resources are designed to support your teen through the challenges of peer relationships and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
Building Empathy and Awareness
Discussing integrity and reflecting on behavior helps teens build empathy and awareness. They begin to understand the impact of their actions on others and learn to navigate social situations with kindness and respect. This foundation is essential for healthy peer relationships and personal growth.
Conclusion
Navigating teenage relationships, especially with peers, can be challenging. However, with the right resources and support, teens can develop the skills they need to build healthy and meaningful relationships. Join our info session to learn more about how the Young Teen Leadership Cohort can support your teen.
Want to stay updated and receive all the resources we’ll be discussing in this series? Sign up for our email series by following the link in the show notes. You'll gain access to valuable tools and information to support your teen through their journey.
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This blogpost was originally posted here!
Learn more about and how to work with Lorraine Connell here!
Please note that the blogpost above does not represent the thoughts or opinions of Fresh Start Registry and solely represents the original author’s perspective.