Discovering the Value of Friendships: Strategies for Building Positive Relationships in Children

We all know that friendships are a crucial component of our wellbeing, both for adults and children. Elizabeth Day’s latest book ‘Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict’ was recently voted the Sunday Times' number 1 bestseller, and it explores the value of friendships, the struggles they present, how to make them, and how to not need them. As professionals in the character education field, we understand that building and maintaining healthy friendships is a skill that children need to develop.?

Unfortunately, when I first became a teacher, there was little training on how to support children emotionally or teach them how to build and navigate friendships. As adults, we know how to manage our feelings when we don’t get along with everyone and can recognise healthy friendships from unhealthy ones. We want the same for our children and are often asked how to ensure they have good friends and how to be okay if they haven’t found genuine friendships yet.

At Role Models, we understand that a strong sense of self is key to building a solid foundation for children to be confident in who they are and recognise healthy friendships. Parents can play a role by seeking out their child’s opinion, enabling them to make decisions, and supporting their development as a person.

Our upcoming webinar, ‘Supporting Children to Develop Positive Friendships’ on Tuesday, 9th May, will explore strategies to help children trust and believe in themselves. Louise Treherne, our director of education, and I will discuss how to embed the necessary skills to help children navigate the rocky road of friendships. We know it can be challenging, but finding even one good friend is worth the journey.

Developing friendships at a young age can shape our identity for the rest of our lives. As parents and teachers of this next generation, we would love nothing more than to smooth the ‘friendship’ pathway that lies ahead. By creating these opportunities now, we help children develop the social skills and connections that will carry them into adulthood and the workplace.

Let’s work together to give children the chance to decide for themselves the best course of action and build their emotional resilience. Join us for the webinar and let’s help children develop positive friendships that will last a lifetime.

Feel free to share this webinar registration link with your network.

N.B This article has been written by our Education Team Executive, Frances Waller.

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