Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg has slammed schools for separating boys from their mates

SCHOOLS are discouraging kids from having best friends and it is the single most “dumb and destructive” policy ever implemented, a top Australian psychologist says.

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SCHOOLS are discouraging kids from having best friends and it is the single most “dumb and destructive” policy ever implemented, a top Australian psychologist says.

“The greatest predictor of wellbeing in life is not being good-looking, or successful or rich, it is having a small group of quality friends,” Michael Carr-Gregg told The Courier-Mail.

“I have approached schools that have banned best friends and was told it is to protect the kids from being hurt when they break up. What nonsense.”

The doctor’s cry for common sense comes as research published in Psychological Science shows that boys who love hanging out with their friends are more likely to be healthy when they grow up.

Queensland parents have taken to online blogs to complain that their children have been separated from a friend, or kids have been shuffled in class so they “connect” with everyone.

Meanwhile, the association between childhood mateship and physical health in adulthood has been revealed by a multi-decade study.

Taitum Eschler, 3, Olly Muoio, 4 and Kidston Otutaha, 4 from the Gold Coast enjoy each other’s company. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The tracked boys who spent more time with friends as children tended to have lower blood pressure and lower BMI when they hit their 30s.

“These findings suggest that our early social lives may have a small protective influence on our physical health in adulthood, and it’s not just our caregivers or financial circumstances, but also our friends who may be health-protective,” the researcher said.

The findings also suggested a link between physical health in childhood and social integration in adulthood.

Dr Carr-Gregg said: “Australians need to know the importance of kids having quality friends – not quantity.

“Discouraging them from making tight bonds is going to make them more fearful of close relationships in the future.

“Mateship is a crucial part of childhood and helps kids find their identity. If they fall out that is part of a life lesson.”