Emos, Goths, Jocks, Nerds...Whatever the title may be, your child is most likely going to tie into a group with similar beliefs, styles, and identities. Kids as young as first grade have already begun to naturally band together based on similarities.
Cliques are exclusive, meaning that you have to meet certain criteria to get in, (fashion, hairstyle, music) and they can provide a sense of belonging, acceptance, and security,
"But what if my child wants to be in a clique and can't get in? "
It's very easy to say, "Who cares about them! Just be yourself and if they don't like it it's their loss!" But we must not devalue the importance to the child, regardless of right and wrong. Their school life is their whole world outside of the family. adults we have greater opportunity to seek out social alternatives.
Generally speaking, there are some things we can do to help our children become more acceptable to their peers, such as promoting good health and hygiene, teaching social skills, and providing certain fashions. (See: "Do Looks Matter?")
'I'm not going to help my kid change who they are just to fit in!"
It's normal and healthy for children to "try on" different identities before deciding on their permanent one. Let them explore acquiring the identity of the clique that they desire and let them see if it fits.
Summary
Although there are some things we can do, and should do, to help kids fit in with their peers, ultimately, there is not much we can do to make a group accept someone that they don't want. However, we can help how our children respond to rejection. (See: "Resilience")