12 Tips for Helping Kids Build Friendships That Last
True friendships are some of the most important connections in life. They help us feel supported, bring out our best qualities, and encourage us to grow. As parents, we all want our kids to have these kinds of friendships, but it takes effort from both sides. The good news is that there are ways you can help your child build these strong bonds. Here are some easy tips to teach your child how to make and keep real friendships. With a bit of support, they can learn how to be a good friend and find friends who care about them, too.
Teach Empathy and Understanding
Empathy is an important element of friendship, and as a parent, you should encourage your children to recognize and validate others’ feelings. Teach them to put themselves in another’s shoes, listen without judgment, and respond kindly. You may use techniques like storytelling, role-playing, and real-life examples to demonstrate an understanding of another’s perspective.
Encourage Active Listening
Active listening goes beyond hearing words—it’s about genuinely understanding the speaker. Not paying attention when someone is speaking is not only rude but also disrespectful. Teach children to make eye contact and engage their friends through verbal and nonverbal cues. This will help them develop genuine friendships where both feel safe and heard.
Help Them Manage Conflicts
Although conflicts are a natural part of friendships, knowing how to deal with them effectively is very important. This skill will help them in every stage of their lives. Be it friendship or any other relationship, teach your kids to approach conflicts constructively and not blow them out of proportion.
Emphasize Sharing and Taking Turns
Sharing and taking turns are positive values that help children grow into responsible and fair individuals. Start by teaching them to share their stuff, such as toys, with their friends. This will help them become fair and accommodating to others’ needs, which is important for sustaining friendships.
Support Their Interests and Hobbies
Friendships built on mutual interests or hobbies last longer and grow deeper. Support their hobbies and encourage them to pursue them. If they want to join social clubs in their schools or attend more extracurricular events, let them. This will allow them to meet like-minded peers with whom they can become good friends.
Promote Positive Communication Skills
Effective communication is key to lasting friendships. Teach children to express themselves kindly and confidently. You can help improve their communication by working on their vocabulary and delivery, emotional regulation, and verbal/non-verbal cues. More importantly, they should be taught to be respectful and attentive when interacting with others.
Provide Opportunities for Social Interaction
Social skills will give your kids an edge in almost every setting, school, work, or elsewhere. The best way to help your kids develop social skills is by giving them natural opportunities to engage socially. You can arrange parties, enroll them in social clubs, or encourage them to take up sports.
Set a Good Example with Your Relationships
Children adopt what they see, and if you want them to grow up to be virtuous, loving, and kind people, you need to lead by example. When communicating with your friends or relatives, be extra cautious about how you address them. Your kids will likely observe your behavior and learn from it.
Teach Them to Respect Differences
As a parent, one of the best things you can do to help your kids build genuine and lasting friendships is to teach them to respect differences. Educate them about different cultures and backgrounds because as we grow, we come across people from all walks of life. This way, they’ll respect others and won’t judge anyone.
Help Them Build Confidence
Confidence is crucial for forming and maintaining friendships. Support children in developing self-esteem through positive reinforcement, acknowledging their strengths, and helping them overcome challenges. Teach them to value themselves, communicate assertively, and approach social interactions with self-assurance and authenticity.
Foster Gratitude Toward Friends
Friendships without gratitude don’t last long. They often become toxic, with one friend feeling undervalued and underappreciated. If you want your kids to create meaningful friendships, teach them to acknowledge and appreciate their friends’ gestures. Even a simple “thank you,” or a kind word goes a long way in strengthening bonds.
Celebrate Their Friendships
Make your child’s friendships feel important by celebrating them. Plan fun playdates or start simple traditions like making friendship bracelets or keeping a scrapbook of fun memories. When you show excitement for their friends, it teaches your child that friendships matter. This helps them learn to value and nurture long-lasting connections.
More For You
Helping your kids make friends begins by encouraging them to be kind and respectful to others. Teach them how to share, take turns, and communicate so they can connect with other kids. A great way to support their social growth is by hosting an outdoor movie party in your backyard. You can invite their friends as well. It’s a fun and relaxed way for kids to spend time together and create lasting memories.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
