The scripts are available for printing and for sound bite identification.

Go to http://www.wichita.edu/newsline to get the current Wichita State University Newsline. If you cannot access the Newsline at the Web address above, contact Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. Newsline cuts may be edited to suit your needs. If you have additional questions for Snyder after listening to the WSU Newsline, please call him at (316) 978-3058 or james.snyder@wichita.edu.

Background:
School is back in session and children face the challenge of fitting in with their peers. Parents hope that their children choose friends who are a good influence. Wichita State University child psychologist Jim Snyder looks at the challenges facing parents and what to do when they are concerned.

Voice wrap:

Announcer: School is back in session, and parents hope their children choose friends who are a good influence. Wichita State University child psychologist Jim Snyder says, for parents, that means being aware of their child's friends and what they're doing.

Snyder: "There's two pieces to managing or being aware of peer influence. The first entails managing and creating environments in which your children are engaged in constructive activities under adult supervision. The second aspect is what's called supervision or monitoring, and really being aware of where your children are at, who they're with and what they're doing."

Announcer: Snyder says peers have a powerful influence in children's development, beginning in preschool and continuing through adolescence. This is Joe Kleinsasser at Wichita State University.

Sound bite #1
Snyder says peer influence is important to a child's development. The sound bite is 17 seconds and the outcue is "hangs out with."

Snyder: "So peers are important contributors to children's development. That influence can be for good or for bad. It depends upon the characteristics of the children or peers that your child hangs out with."

Sound bite #2
Snyder says peer influence begins as early as preschool. The sound bite is 9 seconds and the outcue is "through adolescence."

Snyder: "Peers do have a powerful influence in children's development, beginning as early as preschool and continuing through adolescence."

Sound bite #3
Snyder says peer influence can be negative or positive. The sound bite is 8 seconds and the outcue is "positive influence."

Snyder: "We tend to think of peer influence in negative terms, but peers can also have a powerful positive influence."

Sound bite #4
Snyder talks about managing or being aware of peer influence. The sound bite is 14 seconds and the outcue is "child's age."

Snyder: "Managing and being aware of your child's peers and peer relationships and peer influence is a particular challenge to parents, and that challenge changes somewhat depending on the child's age."

Sound bite #5
Snyder offers a suggestion for parents who are concerned about negative peer influences at school. The sound bite is 33 seconds and the outcue is "how to deal with that."

Snyder: "If parents have concerns about negative peer influence during early childhood and during the elementary school years, and those are occurring at school, there are two tactics. The first is to take those concerns to the child's teacher or to school to see how that influence can be managed. The second tactic is to talk with your child about who he or she is associating with and to problem solve about how to deal with that."

Sound bite #6
Snyder advises that parents be aware of their child's peers and what they're doing. The sound bite is 25 seconds and the outcue is "computer usage."

Snyder: "So generally the idea is to be aware of your child's peers and who he or she hangs out with and what they're doing. That involves having conversations with the child, setting reasonable rules about whereabouts and friends. And probably a newer concern has to do with computer usage. And the wisdom these days is that children's use of computers — computers should be placed in public areas in the home so that parents can monitor their children's computer usage."