Friendship is that precious bond which is not imposed on a child but is created and nurtured by the child himself. Friends are indispensable for the child to grow and evolve as a person. It helps him
to learn how to socialize and respect other person’s feelings. When friends accept a child, it makes him feel important, boosts his confidence, empowers his self-esteem and helps him exp-lore the joys of growing up.
Help your child make friends: Children need to be shown and given a chance to make friends. Give opportunities to your child where he can interact with children of his age and develop friendship like take him to the park, places of friends and neighbours or make him join hobby classes.
Let your child choose his friends: Don’t impose your choice on your child. Don’t try to fix him with a studious child just because you think he’ll have a positive influence on your child. Let your child form a group he feels comfortable and can relate with.
Guide instead of protecting your child from bad company: Keep guiding your child about right and wrong. Develop his strength of mind so that he doesn’t do wrong things under the pressure of peer group and himself keeps away from friends that are having negative influence on him.

Don’t interfere in his relationships: Let your child clear the misunderstandings that crop up and steer his friendship ahead. In case of a rift, don’t try to shield your child by belittling his friends. Such false image would prevent your child from recognizing his shortcomings and never develop lasting friendships.