#1292 - [Parental Guidance Episode 2] Peer Pressure: Fostering Healthy Friendships

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

In a world where kids feel lonelier than ever- despite being constantly “connected” - how can we help them build real, meaningful friendships and resist negative peer pressure? How are the families on Parental Guidance helping their kids make and foster friendships? In this episode, we dive into the crucial role of social skills, healthy face-to-face interactions, and intentional parenting to help children thrive socially and emotionally.

KEY POINTS

• Not all peer pressure is bad — positive peer pressure can help kids adopt healthy habits.
• Many kids today struggle with loneliness despite being surrounded by peers, often due to excessive screen time and lack of real-world social practice.
• Social skills like introducing oneself, showing curiosity, and maintaining conversations are essential for resisting negative peer pressure.
• Parents play a key role by modelling healthy social interactions, facilitating opportunities, and keeping conversations about relationships open and non-judgemental.
• Excessive technology use may hinder social development, but more evidence is needed to fully understand the impact.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with — so help your kids choose wisely." – Dr Justin Coulson

RESOURCES

• Find more parenting resources and tips for making your family happier at Happy Families.
• You can watch Parental Guidance on demand at 9NOW.

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

✅ Reduce your child’s screen time and encourage more in-person social interactions.
✅ Organise supervised, face-to-face playdates or gatherings to help kids practice social skills.
✅ Have regular conversations with your child about their friendships — what’s working, what’s hard, and how they feel about making new friends.
✅ Teach curiosity and empathy by modelling how to ask good questions and show interest in others.
✅ Support your child in developing both structured (team sports, clubs) and unstructured (free play) social experiences.

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