Opinion – should parents choose your friends?
My brothers used to make terrible friends. They were very bad influences on both of them. It seems that one has now grown out of what was a "phase", although my youngest brother still has one friend who I think is a bad influence.
| My older brother has learnt that his friends weren’t really friends at all – we all learn by our mistakes. |
But even though I see my brothers go through I still think that my parents should only pick friends in extreme circumstances, otherwise my brothers will never develop the skill of making good relationships. My older brother has learnt that his friends weren't really friends at all but as the saying goes, we all learn by our mistakes.
Sarah, 13, Belfast
Yes and no. I don't think your parents should choose your friends because they might pick people who you don't like.
Your parents could embarrass you and make your friends feel awkward if you are all standing with them in the street and your mum and dad comes up to tell you that your not allowed to hang about with them anymore.
But on the other hand your parents would make decisions because they care and would have experience in relationships. I think the best way would be to ask them for advice now and again, but not have it forced on me whenever I didn't ask for it.
Mark Luney, 13, Belfast
I feel it is very important to have a friendship with someone. A friend is a very important person. It is someone you can rely on, seek comfort and support from. I think it would be very foolish if your mother or father interferes in your relationship with someone. If it was a person you meet at school for example and went to classes with them every day you would become more aware of their attitudes towards things.
If your parents decide for you then your friendship may not last very long for this simple reason, your parents are from a different generation, they don't understand as much about your age group and what people are up to now days, so they might choose the wrong friend.
Mairead Duffy, 16, Belfast
Parents interfere with every aspect of your life, it seems its always 'No, those trousers are too big' or 'No, your not going there' and to add to their obsessive interfering actions some think they have a right to say 'no I don't like that person, don't see them any more' Parents should not have the right to choose your friends.
I understand that if a kid gets into bad company most parents want to say just that, but I think its more effective to sit the kid down and tell them what they dislike about the person in question, its more effective than asserting extra controlling behaviour.
Akosua Bonsu 15, London
About the team
The Answer the Question panel are members of Children's Express. This article was published as part of Teen Talk, the Children's Express page in New Nation.
