The Latest on Peer Influence

As our children enter the teenage years, more and more of their world begins to revolve around their peer group. While parents remain important and influential, our kids look increasingly to their peers for clues on what to believe, how to behave, and what to do in order to fit in. New research from Florida Atlantic University has found that different types of peers influence different aspects of a teenager’s life. There are two specific groups of peers exerting influence. Researchers foundone’s best friends shape a child’s emotional state and academic behavior. They also found that the larger group of more popular peers exert an influence on how a child presents themselves in public and on social media. This reminds us that we need to be encouraging and making possible  for our kids Godly friendships that are positive. A good youth group situation can become a positive peer group, where not only is God’s design for their lives taught, but practiced as well.