Fostering friendships in children extends beyond lessons, with daily routines, communication, and specific praise playing key roles in developing kindness, respect, and empathy.
Helping children make friends is less about a single lesson than a steady set of habits. According to CBA’s social-emotional learning focus, the building blocks include kindness, respect, listening well and recognising other people’s personal space, ideas and choices. For many children, those skills need to be practised at home before they feel natural with peers.
Parents and carers can make that practice feel ordinary by weaving it into daily routines. Board games, card games and other group activities can teach turn-taking, rule-following and how to cope when things do not go a child’s way. Shared tasks such as cooking, tidying or building something together can also help children learn compromise, communication and respect for different views.
Conversation matters just as much. Families can set aside device-free time so each person has a chance to speak and others learn to listen without interrupting. Books and television programmes can also open the door to useful discussions about friendship, including what made a character kind, inclusive or dependable, and what they might have handled better.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation says children often benefit from being taught how to introduce themselves, look for common interests and practise friendship skills through role-play. PBS KIDS for Parents similarly notes that there is no single correct way to make a friend, and that children may need help understanding that friendships can look different at different ages. GreatSchools adds that when conflicts arise, parents can guide children towards calm problem-solving, patience and empathy rather than simply stepping in to fix the issue.
Positive feedback can strengthen all of this. Instead of a general “good job”, adults can name the exact behaviour they want repeated, such as noticing when a sibling is upset or offering help without being asked. Small, specific praise helps children connect their actions with the way healthy relationships are built and maintained.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
