TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE GOOD FRIENDS!

Making friends (and keeping them) are important life skills to have. Friendships can be developed in many different settings. Having good friends makes you happy. Being a good friend is not a skill that kids just pick up from hanging out with other children on the playground. Developing friendships takes a lot of work (both by parents and kids), but can be one of the most rewarding things to happen in a child’s life.  Here are some simple ways to help teach your child about being a good friend. 

v Explain to your child what good friends do. Good friends…

ü Remember important things (birthdays, accomplishments, etc.)

ü Use kind words.

ü Are reliable.

ü Help out when a friend is sad or has a problem.

ü Share ideas and treats

ü Like to spend time together.

ü Respect each other's differences.

ü Have fun with one another.

ü Make each other a better person.

v Read books about friendship. There are so many amazing friendships that are portrayed in children’s books, such as Frog and Toad for the little ones, and Charlotte’s Web for the older ones.

v Set a good example and be a good friend yourself. As with anything you are trying to teach your child, setting the example with your own actions is the most powerful lesson you can ever teach.

v Role play how to be a good friend. Take advantage of the opportunity to “act out” how a good friend behaves –in school, in church, at a friend or family gathering.

For more child friendly reading, visit http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=1636&np=286