I have always believed the old sayings that have endured through the years have lasted because there is a lot of truth in them. There are two sayings that come to mind in relation to the subject of this chapter. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. When it comes to children, these two sayings are particularly appropriate.
Children are very susceptible to influence from their peers.
One of the main reasons they are so susceptible to this influence is as they grow older, they tend to be rewarded more by the attention and approval of their peers than that of their parents or other adults. This is particularly so as children approach and enter puberty. The junior high and high school years are about the most significant years for this kind of influence. Since the attention and approval of their peers is so very important to children of these ages, that same attention and approval will be some of the strongest rewards they can get. Unless a child has a very strong self concept and a secure set of values before entering these years, he is very susceptible to influence by the company he keeps.