5 Things Emotionally Intelligent Parents Do When They Dont Like Their Childs Friends

5 Things Emotionally Intelligent Parents Do When They Dont Like Their Childs Friends So your child brought home a new friend from school and, to say the least, youre not a big fan. Maybe their friend seems to be a school bully, a manipulator, someone who doesnt like to share or maybe you cant quite put your finger on it. Regardless, you dont want your child hanging around this new friend, but how do you stop them?The reality is that children take pride in being able to make their own decisions such as decisions on who they call friends. So to tell your child not to hang out with their friend might actually have adverse effects and cause rebellion.Heres what you may want to consider doing instead.1. Trust your childs judgment.First and foremost, perhaps you want to sit back and trust your childs judgment. Unless their friend has exhibited any explicitly poor behavior, it may be worth taking some more time to get to know your childs friend (and perhaps even their parents). You may end up warming up to them.2. Dont let your child know that you dont care for their friend.Again, children take pride in their decision-making skills. For that reason, do your best to avoid letting your child know how you feel about their friend. You dont want to give them any more reasons to go running to their friend in rebellion or looking for ways to justify their friends actions.3. Suggest group play dates.If you dont want your child hanging out with the one friend you dont like, suggest group play dates to get them surrounded by other friends, as well. This way, they may see for themselves that other friends seem to be better friends. They may even see how the friend you dont like tends to treat others and decide for themselves that they dont want to associate either.4. Keep an open-door policy in your home.Instead of discluding trouble friends or not allowing them in your home at all, consider keeping an open-door policy so that all of your childrens friends are welcome so long as they play by your rules. Allow them to hang around if they promise to share and be kind (or whatever else you feel they dont do well or enough of). This may help pull them out of their negative behaviors, as your child and your family may have a positive impact on them.5. Involve your child in more social activities.Talk to your child about joining more social activities, such as sports that require them to make friendships founded upon teamwork, collaboration and communication skills. This may keep them busy with friends who also share these values, so theyll naturally start spending less time with the friend you dont like so much.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreport and Facebook.