First Friends: 7 Tips to Help Parents Teach Kids How to Be a Good Friend! by Jill Ceder, LMSW, JD

Parenting
6 years ago

First Friends: 7 Tips to Help Parents Teach Kids How to Be a Good Friend!

Kids model their parents – and learn from their verbal and non-verbal communication. It’s your job to teach your child how to react to situations and how to treat others. Here are seven tips to help! 

  1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain. 
  2. Be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves. 
  3. Make others feel important and do it sincerely. 
  4. Know when you use suggestions and do not give direct orders. 
  5. Be friendly and don’t meet aggression with aggression. Be assertive, not aggressive. 
  6. Praise other’s achievements. 
  7. Be empathetic towards others.

Encourage your child to be social. First friends can last a lifetime!

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Ann Marie Patitucci
I love this! What great suggestions, even for older children!
Donna John
This is so important, Jill Palmer Bollman! It can even impact their other relationships down the road. Good to start instilling these things in them early. Thanks for sharing, and happy National Friendship Day!
Jessica Caroline
Friends are an important part of life. It requires a lot of effort to kindle the flame of friendship and keep it burning. How can we teach our children to do this?

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