Student Wellbeing

Helping Children Build Healthy Friendships

Friendliness helps children (and adults!) feel connected and valued. When something exciting or challenging happens, sharing it with a friend makes all the difference. Friendships don’t just happen; they grow between people who are willing to be kind, open, and themselves.

Navigating friendships can sometimes be tricky for children. With so much happening inside and outside of school, it’s important for them to know that challenges with friends are normal and that they’re not alone. Talking openly and often about friendship helps children feel supported and learn important life skills.

Strong, healthy friendships play a big role in a child’s emotional wellbeing. Encourage regular conversations about what makes a good friend, how to nurture friendships, and how to recognise when a friendship isn’t positive.

Here are some helpful ways to support your child:

1. Talk about what makes a true friend: Make a list together of what good friends do, such as being kind, honest, and supportive. Remind children that they can have different friends who meet different needs. The quality of friendships matters more than quantity.

2. Listen more than you talk: When your child shares a friendship concern, start by listening and validating their feelings. Use open-ended questions like, “What makes someone a good friend?” or “How could you be a kind friend in this situation?”

3. Share your own experiences: Children learn from hearing about times when you’ve had friendship ups and downs. Share what you learned and how you might handle things differently now. It helps normalise that friendship challenges happen to everyone.

4. Practise problem-solving: If your child has a friendship issue, role play different ways to handle it. Rehearse what they might say so they feel confident.

5. Make time for friendships: Busy schedules can make it hard to nurture friendships. Encourage playdates, joining clubs, or being part of a team, great ways to connect and find “their people.”

6. Step back when needed: It’s natural to want to protect your child, but it’s important that they learn to resolve conflicts themselves. Offer guidance and empathy, but avoid jumping in too quickly.

7. Talk about boundaries and change: Help your child understand that healthy friendships include mutual respect and space. It’s okay for friendships to change, some last for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

At the end of the day, friendships come in all shapes and sizes. Some last a season, some a lifetime, but each one helps children learn, grow, and feel connected.Encourage your child to be the kind of friend they’d like to have, and to appreciate the people who make them feel seen and valued.

💛 “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.” – Winnie the Pooh