What should I do if I don't like one of my child's friends?

What should I do if I don't like one of my child's friends?

Harvey Hoyo (President, California School Counselors Association) gives expert video advice on: How should I react if my child has been in a fight?; How should I relate to my child's friends?; Should I buy clothes for my child so he can dress like his peers? and more...

As a parent, it's important to use your judgment. You have the authority as a parent, but you also have the experience and the education, even if it's not formal education. You have more education than your child, so you understand more things than he does. So you have a right to dissuade your child from connecting with this other youngster. It should be done in consultation with your child. I always believe in a balanced lifestyle, and I believe it's important for your youngster to get to know troubled kids - not to be negatively influenced by them, but kids at risk, they need to understand how to deal with them. So the danger is trying to over-shelter them with some of these students. You don't want to deal that, because now you're not preparing them to enter the real world. It's important for you to balance. If you're not sure, consult with your school counselor and/or your child's classroom teacher. That is essential to provide that perspective, because you don't want to over-shelter them. That's the worst thing a good parent could do.