References:
- HealthLinkBC – Friends and Friendships
- Kids Help Phone – Making friends: How to build friendships
- Raising Children Network (Australia) – School-age friendships: how to support them
- Many parents worry about whether their children have enough friends, are happy with their friendships, and get along with other children
- Getting to know your child’s friends is a good way to support your child’s friendships and ease your mind
- Strong family relationships help children through the highs and lows of making and losing friends
- Your child does not need to be popular and have many friends to be happy and accepted by other children
- Some children prefer their own company and don’t need or want a big group of friends
- If your child seems happy with their social life, you might not need to try to help them find more friends
Why are Friendships Important for My Child?
- They help build a child’s social skills and their self-esteem
- They help children develop life skills like getting along with others and dealing with conflicts and problems
- Children who build these skills are less likely to have emotional and social difficulties as they grow up
How Can I Help My Child Make Friends?
- Provide your child with many opportunities to play with other children
- Enroll your children in activities out of school
- Be familiar with activities and services for families in your area
Tips You Can Give Your Children about Making Friends:
- Be friendly and approachable
- Be mindful of body language
- Keep your head up, make eye contact, and smile, this can let others know you want to talk
- Participate in extracurricular activities
Getting to Know Your Children’s Friends Can Show You:
- What their friends are like
- The influence friends have on your child
- How your child gets along with their friends
- Other families with children similar age
Tips for Setting up Play Dates:
- Before, help your child put away anything they don’t want to share or could be easily broken
- Invite the parents to stay
- Start with a drink and snack
- Talk to the children about where they are allowed to play
- Plan activities for them to do
What Are the Signs of A Strong Friendship?
- Treating each other with respect
- Appreciating the unique qualities of each other
- Listening to the thoughts and feelings of each other
- Looking forward to seeing each other
- Feeling like you can be yourself around each other
- Having fun together
- Wanting to help each other
- Being honest with each other
- Trusting each other
Further Your Learning:
- HealthLinkBC – Friends and Friendships
- Raising Children Network (Australia) – School-age friendships: how to support them
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