Student Wellbeing

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How can we help kids make friends? It might seem we can do very little. Making friends is a very personal business, after all. But building a friendship depends on a child’s emotional skills, self-regulation skills, and social competence. And parents can play an important role in the development of these abilities.

To be successful, kids must

• regulate their own, negative emotions;
• understand other people’s emotions and perspectives;
• show sympathy, and offer help to friends in need;
• feel secure and trusting of other people;
• know how to handle introductions, and participate in conversation;
• be capable of cooperation, negotiation, and compromise;
• know how to apologize, and make amends; and
• be understanding (and forgiving) of other people’s mistakes.

Some people make friends easily others can struggle but like any skill it can be taught.

How can we further support children to make friends:

• Create opportunities to talk about how to build conversations, expand interactions, and be a good friend.

• Be a positive role model and respect individual differences. Model respect, caring, patience, and positive interactions.
• Promote connections around common interests.
• Provide opportunities for ongoing social connections.
• Help students to join ongoing group activities and support roles where they can participate and contribute fully.
•  Get together with other classmates outside class.

Jenny Willmott

Deputy Principal

Student Wellbeing Leader