Rage Against The Minivan: 7 Simple Things To Teach Kids About Being A Good Friend
Dear kids,
I’m writing this as the new school year gets underway. A new school year means seeing a lot of your friends again after a long summer, and that’s always fun. But it also means interacting with your friends and making new one. There will be kids in your class this year who weren’t there last year. There will be friends you already know. And as important as it is to master your academic pursuits at school, I also want you to take this time to learn to be a good friend.
1) Have fun.
Don’t make fun. A new class is always scary for one reason or another, even if you are at the same school as you were last year. Almost everyone is a little bit nervous””even the kids you don’t expect to be worried about anything. Remember to laugh and have fun instead of making fun of any insecurities. Poking fun at differences in appearance or ability is something cruel people do, and you strive to be kind.
2) Be positive.
If you see a kid who looks sad or scared or overwhelmed, give them a hug or high-five. Say something like, ”We got this.” Encourage the people around you. Seek to make others feel good.
3) Be aware.
Listen to what others are saying around you. If someone is being ugly about another kid””the way he looks, the way she dresses, or something that happened at lunch””do not participate. Even better, stand up to them and counter their negative words with something positive.
4) Be forgiving.
Look, sometimes kids mess up. Even you. Others may say or do something that hurts your feelings. Forgiveness is the key to patching things up. I hope you can offer some.
5) Include people at recess.
The longest 15 minutes of any kid’s day is a recess when they have no one to play with. If you’re playing a game, include others who want to joint. Make sure no one feels left out and consider the times you’ve wanted to join in.
6) Speak carefully.
Be aware of what you say. Not every person in the class will be invited to every party or activity. But when you talk and laugh about the things you’ve done over the weekend with everyone else””except certain kids weren’t invited””then all it does is make the uninvited kid aware of how much they’re missing out.
7) Be generous.
Be available to lend a pencil, paper, glue, or any other supplies. Trust me: it’s way better to get it from a friend than to have to ask the teacher.
I know these things may seem like a lot to ask. But I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was so important. Because we all need good friends. And the best way to find good friends is to be a good friend.
(GIFs: via)
