As your child grows, they'll naturally make new friends along the way. But how do you, as a parent, gauge whether or not these new friendships are really healthy for your kid?

Too often, a child or teen makes a new friend because of a desire to fit in. Wanting to be accepted is a healthy, normal feeling. Becoming reliant on acceptance, and changing behaviors to attain it, is not.

Here are three different ways you can take a step back and examine your child's behavior, evaluating if they've developed an unhealthy reliance on acceptance.

1.Change in Relationships

Keep an eye out for any shifts or changes in your child's relationship or social status. Have they shifted from a leadership role to a follower role? Talk to them to find out why or how they've made their new friends. Be aware if they suddenly move away from old friendships, begin treating you differently, or you notice a generally more negative mood.

2. Consistently Different

Everyone gets moody, no matter the age. There's no need to worry if your teen seems to be having an off day, or even week. But if their social, eating or sleep behaviors have been persistently different for 2 or 3 weeks, it may be time to sit down and have a conversation to get to the source of the issue. There's a chance that relationships with their peers are affecting your teen.

3. Telltale Signs: Skill & Will

Here's an example – your teen's grades in math have recently gone downhill. How can you tell if they are actually struggling, or if this is the result of peer pressure? First look at their Skill – have they been capable in the past? It might be time to talk with their teacher to get more insight. Then, look at their Will. Do they care? If they have the skills to get the work done, but have decided to not put in the effort, it's time to examine if their relationships are affecting their academics.

Looking for these three changes in your teen can give you a stronger insight into their relationships and whether or not they've become unhealthily reliant on acceptance from their peers.