Fostering Kid Friendships
I’ll never forget my son’s first day in kindergarten. He hopped off the bus, pumped his little arms in the air, and announced, “I have a new best friend!” What a relief for both of us! He and his new BF rode the bus side-by-side everyday, played together on the playground, and sat next to one another in class.
Life is definitely more relaxed and fun with friends. With school starting soon, let’s focus on kid friendships. Making and keeping friends in preschool and elementary school is the training ground for future friendships. The Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12, is a great place to start in friendship formation. Treating others as you would like to be treated is a life lesson best learned early. Kindness, unselfishness, and empathy grow when a child can think outside of himself.
Here are a few ideas to get you started with your children.
• Pray for healthy friendships for your kids.
• Spend some time on the playground before school starts. It’s a great place to meet future classmates.
• Model how to ask questions to get to know the new friend. “What’s your favorite (food, color, animal, etc.)?” This is a fun and easy place to start.
• After school is in session, ask the teacher who your child plays with most often. Arrange for a play date outside of class to encourage the friendship.
• Encourage kids to get involved in extra-curricular activities. This is especially important in middle and high school.
• Take advantage of the youth programs at your church. Kids learning the same faith lessons are friendships you want to foster.
• Get to know the parents of your kid’s friends!
• Use the Bible for examples of friendships. One of my favorites is a quick mention of King David’s friend in 1 Chronicles 27. Read more here!
Robert Louis Stevenson had it right when he said, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.”
A friend loves at all times…
Proverbs 17:17a
© 2013 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
If you’ve been encouraged by this post, please take a moment to subscribe to the Faith First Parent e-newsletter, join in the conversation on the Facebook page or share the post with a friend.
Photo by Allie Milot on Unsplash