Parents would often choose different friends for their teen than they choose themselves. Adolescents can be taught to make responsible choices, but they will only find new or different friends if they so choose. With the abundance of cliques in middle and high school, moving into a new friend group is not an easy task even for a teen who desires too. While your child's friends may not provide the influence they prefer, having the independence to form friends with those of one's choose is a growing experience. Chances are, your teens friends now will not be their only friends forever.