Encourage participation in extracurricular activities. Help your child choose activities that are interesting but not overly stressful or time-consuming. Encourage participation even if your child is doing poorly in school. These programs not only give your child enjoyable opportunities to interact with classmates, but also promotes leadership and responsibility. Choose your battles carefully.
Many parents find early adolescence to be tough going.
While your child may do many things that you find objectionable, avoid getting into battles over every issue. If you choose to fight every battle, you are assured of fighting a larger war. This does not mean staying silent, but rather that you reserve your expressions of concern for the issues that really matter to you. Your relationship with your child will call for a mix of tenderness, firmness, understanding, restraint and a sense of humor. Foster friendships from elementary school.