Building Healthy Friendships at Every Age
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Friendships are a big part of your child’s school experience and an important part of their growth. Learning how to build healthy friendships helps students feel connected, confident, and supported in and out of the classroom.
So, what are healthy friendships? And how can we, as parents and caregivers, guide our children to make smart choices about their relationships? Colby Tein, a Moral Focus™ Specialist at National Heritage Academies (NHA®), shares her insights on how to help kids recognize what makes a friendship healthy, how to spot red flags, and why setting healthy boundaries is important at every grade level.
A healthy friendship is one where both people feel safe, respected, and accepted. Kids who feel like they can be themselves around their friends without fear of judgment or pressure are more likely to thrive socially and emotionally. According to Tein, here are some key signs of a healthy friendship:
As kids move from kindergarten to high school, their friendships will change but the core values of friendship stay the same. Help your child recognize these positive qualities to look for in a friend:
It's important to help kids understand the difference between healthy vs. unhealthy friendships. An unhealthy friendship might involve:
As kids grow, they also need to learn how to set healthy boundaries in relationships with friends, peers, and even adults. Colby Tein explains that boundaries are a way to protect ourselves and others.
“Teaching children how to say no respectfully, take space when needed, and stand up for themselves in a calm way is part of building character,” she says. “At NHA, we use our Moral Focus curriculum to help students learn and practice these skills every day.”
Some examples of healthy boundaries kids can use include:
Whether your child is in kindergarten or preparing for high school, teaching them how to build and maintain healthy friendships is one of the best ways to help them grow into thoughtful, resilient people. At National Heritage Academies, we believe strong friendships just like strong character, are built with intention.
Remember, healthy friendships are learned and your support makes all the difference.
So, what are healthy friendships? And how can we, as parents and caregivers, guide our children to make smart choices about their relationships? Colby Tein, a Moral Focus™ Specialist at National Heritage Academies (NHA®), shares her insights on how to help kids recognize what makes a friendship healthy, how to spot red flags, and why setting healthy boundaries is important at every grade level.
What Does a Healthy Friendship Look Like?
A healthy friendship is one where both people feel safe, respected, and accepted. Kids who feel like they can be themselves around their friends without fear of judgment or pressure are more likely to thrive socially and emotionally. According to Tein, here are some key signs of a healthy friendship:- Kindness and encouragement – Real friends cheer you on, not tear you down.
- Respect for differences – Friends may not agree on everything, and that’s okay. Respect is key.
- Good communication – Friends talk with each other, not about each other.
- Trust and honesty – Healthy friendships are built on truth, not secrets or lies.
Qualities to Look for in a Friend
As kids move from kindergarten to high school, their friendships will change but the core values of friendship stay the same. Help your child recognize these positive qualities to look for in a friend:- Someone who makes you feel good about yourself
- Someone who includes you and others
- Someone who listens and apologizes when needed
- Someone who doesn’t pressure you to do things that feel wrong
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendships
It's important to help kids understand the difference between healthy vs. unhealthy friendships. An unhealthy friendship might involve:- Gossip or drama
- Controlling behavior
- Feeling left out or bullied
- Being pressured to keep secrets or break rules
Teaching Healthy Boundaries in Relationships
As kids grow, they also need to learn how to set healthy boundaries in relationships with friends, peers, and even adults. Colby Tein explains that boundaries are a way to protect ourselves and others.“Teaching children how to say no respectfully, take space when needed, and stand up for themselves in a calm way is part of building character,” she says. “At NHA, we use our Moral Focus curriculum to help students learn and practice these skills every day.”
Some examples of healthy boundaries kids can use include:
- “I don’t like when you tease me. Please stop.”
- “I need a break right now.”
- “I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”
Support at Every Stage
Whether your child is in kindergarten or preparing for high school, teaching them how to build and maintain healthy friendships is one of the best ways to help them grow into thoughtful, resilient people. At National Heritage Academies, we believe strong friendships just like strong character, are built with intention.Remember, healthy friendships are learned and your support makes all the difference.