And now a word from 

Mrs Richards...

Helping Children Manage Friendships: The URSTRONG Friend-o-Meter and the Green Zone

Last week I chatted about our school understanding that friendships are an essential part of every child’s wellbeing, learning, and happiness. This year we have begun to teach students how to build healthy friendships using strategies from the URSTRONG program — a globally recognised social-emotional learning initiative. One of the key tools used is the Friend-o-Meter, which helps children understand and reflect on their relationships in a simple, visual way. 

The Friend-o-Meter acts like a thermometer for friendships. It helps students identify whether a friendship feels safe and positive (Green Zone) or uncomfortable and unhealthy (Yellow or Red Zones). The goal is to help children recognise the behaviours that make a friendship feel "green" — things like kindness, respect, trust, and fun — and to notice when a friendship moves out of that zone.

We encourage our students to regularly "check the Friend-o-Meter" and ask themselves:

• Do I feel happy and included when I’m with this friend?

• Is this person treating me the way a good friend should?

• Are we resolving conflicts respectfully?

When children notice they’re not in the Green Zone, they’re taught how to use friendly and respectful strategies to repair the friendship or, in some cases, walk away if it’s become unhealthy.

You can support this learning at home by:

• Talking with your child about their friendships.

• Asking which zone their friendships are in and why.

• Reinforcing the idea that a healthy friendship makes you feel good about yourself.

By giving children the language and tools to manage friendships, we empower them to navigate social ups and downs with confidence and empathy.