Student Wellbeing

Friendships

As children grow and move through primary school, they experience many new social situations. One of the most important aspects of their development is learning how to form and maintain friendships.

Friendships help children develop crucial life skills, such as getting along with others, resolving conflicts, and problem-solving. These skills are key to reducing the likelihood of social and emotional challenges as they grow older.

Friendships also build self-esteem. When children have close friends, they feel connected and a sense of belonging. Friends offer care and support, which in turn helps children feel good about themselves.

At Park Orchards Primary School, we actively teach the skills necessary for making and keeping friends. Through weekly Wellbeing lessons, children learn empathy, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and help-seeking strategies via The Resilience Project and the Resilience, Rights, and Respectful Relationships program.

Socialising requires many skills, such as expressing thoughts, listening to and understanding others, showing interest, and taking turns. Non-verbal communication is just as important, including interpreting gestures, reading facial expressions, and understanding personal space and touch.

Research shows that strong friendships and healthy relationships are essential for social competence and are linked to quality of life and mental health, both in childhood and adulthood. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected how children interact with friends, peers, teachers, and family, making social skills more important than ever.

As parents, your role in modelling positive social behaviours is crucial in helping your children understand healthy relationships. Childhood friendships can be fluid, with children forming new bonds and sometimes drifting apart. It’s important to teach your children to recognise positive qualities in their friends and be aware of how their own behaviour affects relationships. By demonstrating empathy, kindness, and respect in your interactions, you provide a strong example for your children to follow.

Read about how you can help your child be a good friend by Shona Hendley

This year the School Council discussed and ratified the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy. Please find the document attached.