Children who act toxic are often referred to as bullies, and are frequently stereotyped as overtly aggressive. Yet in reality, these children can be discreet about the psychological war they wage.

In her upcoming book How To Talk To Kids About Anything, Dr. Robyn Silverman, a child and teen development specialist, writes about friendship, including how to recognize toxic dynamics your child ...

Your kids are allowed to have friends that aren’t exactly your cup of tea, and it’s important to let your child explore different kinds of friendships. But sometimes your child has a friend ...

Cresskill-based child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Emily Becker-Weidman explained that a toxic friendship is characterized by the detrimental effect it has on a child’s self-esteem and/or ...

For example, if you tell your child no communicating after 9 p.m. and this friend continually calls or texts, saying rules are stupid or for little kids, this is not a friendship you want to nurture.

When competition turns toxic, however, kids suffer. I was running an assembly on empathy and compassion for upper elementary school students when a question from a fifth-grade girl gave me pause.

A toxic friend may also not want to come over to your house, where they can be observed by a parent. The psychologist added: "Sudden outbursts, anger and misplaced feelings are all signs of ...

If your child’s toxic friend finds herself in trouble over her bullying behavior, she may bring up a difficult or traumatic past to try to excuse or deflect from taking responsibility.

But generally, a toxic friendship "emotionally harms you, rather than helping you," says clinical psychologist Andrea Bonior, Ph.D. , author of The Friendship Fix: The Complete Guide to Choosing ...

A toxic friendship can sneak up on people because the signs are often subtle. But, it's important to evaluate when a friendship is doing more harm than good—and figure out whether it’s time to ...