Marsha Keating, a pastor's wife who home schools her three children, believes that plunging kids into the hard realities of the world doesn't discharge parents from their responsibility. Parents do need to guide their children in their outside relationships. You can't assume they will automatically gravitate to the right clique. More important than cliques is choosing godly friends. The key to helping our children choose friends wisely is learning how to strike a balance between total nonintervention que sera sera and overprotection.
Some kids gravitate to cliques because of shyness, insecurity or self-preoccupation.
They refuse to make friends with anyone outside their peer group or clique. One mom directed her son to say hi daily to one person outside his group at school. Acknowledge your child's desire to be part of a group, but hold firm to your values at the same time. Maintain an open dialogue about behavioral expectations and encourage your children not to participate in anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Pray with and for your children regarding their peer relationships.