Parent Press

a Goally Publication

Get

Goally

How to Choose Good Friends for Kids

Ever wondered how to guide your kids in the complex world of friendships? It’s a jungle out there, but don’t fret. We’re here to help. This blog post will break down choosing good friends into bite-sized, digestible steps. We’ve even got a handy Goal Mine video class that your kids can watch to learn this skill independently. So, let’s navigate this together, shall we?

StepsDescription
Step 1: Understanding FriendshipTeach your kids what friendship is all about. It’s about mutual respect, trust, and understanding.
Step 2: Qualities of Good FriendsDiscuss the qualities of good friends. Honesty, kindness, respect, and reliability are some of the traits they should look for in a friend.
Step 3: Red Flags In FriendshipsTeach your kids to recognize the red flags in friendships. These could include constant criticism, bullying, manipulation, or disrespect.
Step 4: Good Friendship ChoicesGuide your kids in making good friendship choices. Encourage them to choose friends who share their values and interests.

Step 1: Understanding Friendship

Firstly, teaching what friendship is all about is essential. Friendship is more than just sharing toys or playing together. It’s about mutual respect, trust, and understanding. It’s about being there for each other, in good times and bad.

Start by explaining these concepts to your kids. Use real-life examples to illustrate your points. For instance, you could discuss your friendships or use characters from their favorite shows. Remember, the goal is to make them understand that a good friend is someone who respects them, listens to them, and supports them.

Goally | The Safest Tablet for Kids

A young child demonstrates brushing teeth on the best tablet for kids by Goally, highlighting a kid-friendly interface.

Step 2: Qualities of Good Friends

Now that your kids understand what friendship is, it’s time to discuss the qualities of good friends. Honesty, kindness, respect, and reliability are traits they should look for in a friend. Again, use examples to illustrate these qualities. You could even role-play scenarios to help them understand better.

Encourage your kids to be the kind of friends they want to have. After all, friendship is a two-way street. They should also exhibit these qualities to be a good friend to others.

how to choose good friends. two kids are playing crafts together.
Read more: Child Not Making Friends at School | How to Help

Step 3: Red Flags In Friendships

However, not all friendships are healthy. It’s crucial to recognize the red flags in friendships. These could include constant criticism, bullying, manipulation, or disrespect. If a friend consistently makes them feel bad or uncomfortable, that’s a sign that the friendship is unhealthy.

Teach your kids that it’s okay to distance themselves from such friends. They should never feel obligated to stay in a friendship that makes them unhappy or uncomfortable. Above all, let them know they can always talk to you about their concerns.

Step 4: Good Friendship Choices

Finally, guide your kids in making good friendship choices. Please encourage them to choose friends who share their values and interests. But also remind them that it’s okay to have different friends. After all, diversity enriches our lives and broadens our perspectives.

Encourage your kids to be open-minded and respectful of others’ differences. Teach them to stand up for their friends and to be there for them, just as they would want their friends to be there for them.

Goally | 100+ Streaming Video Classes

Does your child need some extra guidance on building essential life skills? Goally’s skill building tablet for kids includes a TV app that has the most robust video library of skills training videos for kids. Ranging from content like “How to Brush Your Teeth” to “How to Make Friends at School,” we have dozens of interactive video lessons for kids with thinking and learning differences.

An assortment of interactive video class thumbnails, including dental care and cooking, on the best tablet for kids by Goally.

HERE’s a video explaining how to works.

Choosing good friends is a vital life skill that can significantly impact your kids’ happiness and well-being. By understanding friendship, recognizing the qualities of good friends, spotting red flags, and making good friendship choices, your kids will be well-equipped to navigate the world of friendships. Remember, these skills need to be practiced over time. So, be patient, be supportive, and most importantly, keep the lines of communication open. And remember to remember the Goal Mine video class for a kid-friendly breakdown of how to choose good friends. Want to unlock the rest of the video lessons? Get Goally’s dedicated Tablet today!


FAQ’s About How to Choose Good Friends

What is Goally's approach to teaching kids how to choose good friends?
Goally uses task analysis to break down the process of choosing good friends into easy, manageable steps through interactive video classes.

How does Goally help kids understand the concept of friendship?
Goally's video classes use real-life examples and role-play scenarios to help kids understand the importance of mutual respect, trust, and understanding in friendships.

What qualities of good friends does Goally emphasize?
Goally emphasizes honesty, kindness, respect, and reliability as key qualities to look for in good friends.

How does Goally help kids recognize red flags in friendships?
Goally teaches kids to identify signs of unhealthy friendships, such as constant criticism, bullying, manipulation, or disrespect.

How does Goally guide kids in making good friendship choices?
Goally encourages kids to choose friends who share their values and interests, and teaches them to respect and appreciate diversity in friendships.
Article by
Goally Logo
Goally

We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.