Some friendships are there for life. Children make a friend and that’s it. Both children put the effort in and somehow manage to keep the friendship alive. That friend may be with them forever or just until they move onto secondary school. I say some children… Not all of them are able to. The children that are able to forge good friendships and keep them going know what they need to do as well as understanding the nature and personality of their friend. They know what makes that person tick and about their likes and dislikes. They know how to treat them and know what they respond well to. They understand their emotions and their beliefs and values. All of which will help. They seem to inherently have the skills that are needed for keeping friendships alive. So what skills are they exactly?
Ways To Make A Friend for Life
The skills that I think are important for forging friendships (in no particular order) are:
- The ability to listen to your friends and allow them to speak. When they do speak be patient and give them time to finish talking
- To consider your friends thoughts and feelings and to respect them when they are different to yours
- To have fun and just be yourself with friends so they really see you for who you are
- To be able to empathise and sympathise with them
- Support friends when they need it
- Help friends when they have a problem if you can. If not, just listen to them.
- Look after friends when they are hurt and try and make them feel better
- Share things with them so they feel considered
What would you add to this list? Do your children act like this with their friends and is it reciprocated? If you would like some more information on helping your child with friendships download my successful friendships ebook.
