Friendship lessons for your child

There is a reason why childhood friends hold a special place in our heart as the bond developed over shared pencils and watercolours asks nothing more than your mere presence. When you are young the beginning of friendship is heartbreakingly innocent and in most scenarios, it is one of the first relationships you develop outside your family. How your kids develop meaningful relationships with other children of their age, is also a reflection of the subconscious and conscious lessons they have learnt from their own family.

01/ How to teach your child to be a good friend

For your child to develop enriching friendships that teach him that value of loyalty, trustworthiness, companionship and kindness, you may need to actively guide him, with your actions and words. This is also precisely why when your child fights with his best friend for the nth time, you need to take out some time to address what is actually happening. We are listing down five friendship lessons you can teach your little one to ensure that he/she turns out to be a good friend and cultivates friendships that last a lifetime.

02/ ​Be kind and inclusive

Undoubtedly, one of the simplest yet most profound life lessons that you can ever teach your child is to be kind to every kid they meet. Kindness can entail checking whether someone is sitting alone in the classroom or is in the need of a friend. It also includes accepting people who may look different or dress differently or are just a bit different overall. When you explain your little ones about the importance of kindness, be rest assured that it will create a ripple effect that you will be incredibly proud of.

03/ ​Stand up for your friends

Having your friend’s back is the very essence of friendship. You may teach your child to stand up for his friends by intervening in the situation when someone is picking on their friends or being unkind. This will go a long way in helping your child strengthen his bond with his friends and also enable them to stand up against bullies.

04/ A good friend is not a bully

Making your child understand that friends do not bully or boss around or make fun of each other is probably as important as teaching them the qualities of a good friend. So, let your child recognise if he/she begins to feel uncomfortable with the way a friend is behaving or acting. As a parent, you can make them understand that a true friend will respect you, be kind to you and make you feel included.

05/ ​Conflict is normal

When you are young, one fight with your best friend or an argument with your group may seem like the end of the world. This is precisely why you may need to guide your little one that conflicts, disagreements and even fights are normal (and even healthy part of most relationships). You can teach your children to navigate difficult conversations with kindness and also apologise if they feel that are at fault. Gracefully accepting one’s mistakes and understanding that friendship isn’t always perfect is a great learning experience for little ones.

06/ ​Friendships change over time and it is okay

When you are young, it is hard to understand the fluid nature of relationships and why exactly we are not best friends with certain people anymore. When you teach your little one that people change over time and certain friendships may not remain how they used to be, you prepare him to understand that people grow apart and it is okay. It may hurt for a while but you also get to make new friends!

from LifeStyle