What does it take to be a good friend? Close your eyes, breathe deeply for the count of 3 in and the count of 3 out, 3 times (talk your children through this, ie: “in - 2 - 3 and out - 2 – 3”). Now when I say the words “I’m a great friend” and ask your kids what images they see?
Are they brightly coloured, is there sound, do you see your friends from school? Maybe friends from outside school. What are you doing together? Do you just see shapes and patterns? Do you think of cartoons, or a book you have
Use the fantastic Colorific Paper Faces which have plenty of space to draw a visual or write a poem or creative script of some sort about being a good friend. Perhaps you could have a few story sparker lines for them to expand into a friendship story, maybe about a falling out and how it was resolved.
Create a few random cards that the kids have to pick out of a hat to start their story with.
Talk about the importance of friends in our lives. What can we all do to be a good friend? Have children discuss
the important qualities of listening, not judging, and offering support to a friend in need.
Children who are willing may like to share gratitude stories about their friends and a time when their friends were
there to support them when they needed it.