True Friendship – Help Your Child Recognize It

True friendship does not happen often, hence its uniqueness. But how do we teach our child to distinguish between trustworthy people and toxic relationships? Is there a way to effectively identify the person we can count on? How to pass this knowledge and skill to our children? We will try to answer these and other questions in this article.

Of course, through the mistakes we make, we learn the fastest: how to change our habits and behaviors. However, as parents, can we do something to protect our children from certain situations and people who are toxic to them?

First of all, remember that parents should be the first friends of their children. We give rise not only to their lives, but also to their emotional path and maturity. We share experiences, thoughts and mistakes. After all, the natural stage of each individual is  building interpersonal relations.

Learning to build interpersonal relationships

This moment happens to our children from an early age, even in kindergartens. They selectively form groups themselves, create stronger relations in the neighborhood or with children in the family. How can we help them identify honest and true relationships among so many?

Work in this aspect begins when our descendant reaches the proud age of 4 or 5. Children then develop one of the most important social skills: the ability to create non-accidental social bonds and the ability to maintain them.

Most importantly, we should teach children from an early age how important friendship and the accompanying values ​​are in their lives. It is said that happiness is only real when shared with others. Both we and the children should remember this.

True Friendship –How Can You Help Your Children Recognize It?

Each of us, including parents, may think that friendship is only a positive experience. However, as we know, certainly based on our experience – it carries a number of obligations and consequences. Children must remember how important it is in their lives.

However, they should not forget that just as we are all different, every friendship is different.

However, it should be based on a few basic values. So what is true friendship? Let us teach children that it is the one based on love, trust and sincerity.

How do you recognize a true friend?

First of all: we cannot choose our children’s friends. Especially in the teenage years, when friends suppress all interests and become the most important people in the lives of our offspring. What we can do is guide them so that they know how to build meaningful relationships where respect and honesty reign .

Let your happiness voluntarily share information about its friends with you. You may notice something disturbing that you should pay attention to.

True friendship in the lives of our children

Celebrating your successes and achievements and supporting you in hard times. Criticism in the eyes, but nice words in the company. They grieve with us and rejoice together. They are with us in the most important moments.

Friends stand by our side and encourage us to fight our problems. These are just some of the most important features of a good friendship. What else should our child remember when assessing the value of their friendly relations?

• True friendship is with you when you need it most.
• A good friend treats you with respect. He always says what he thinks, does not criticize behind his back, is honest and constant in his emotions towards you.

• Remind your child that true friendship is one that keeps itself away from conflict and taking advantage of its weaknesses.
• A worthy friend is loyal. You don’t have to worry about losing it, even in the event of an argument.
• The friend treats us well, does not ridicule us, appreciates our commitment and offers it out of himself.
• He laughs and plays with us. But he also grieves when our world collapses.
• He is not jealous of other people in your life. Friendship must not be toxic. It is worth reminding our children of this.
• A true friendship is full of openness and understanding, therefore a friend respects our opinions and gives the opportunity to express them. Even if you do not agree, he appreciates and respects your beliefs.
• Your best friend doesn’t force you to do things we don’t want to do. It does not pull you out to parties you don’t like, it does not force you to use drugs that you do not want to use and respects your independence and freedom of choice.

• True friendship is full of freedom.

Remind your offspring that if the people in their life meet most of these traits, they can enjoy valuable friendships.

Toxic friendships – help your child overcome them

We will tell you a story that will interest every caring parent.

Her best friends are not supportive of her. One of them treats her “on cue”. Another ignores her completely and gradually pushes Marianna away from her group of friends. A young girl doesn’t know how to react to the people she loves and starts to hate at the same time. She just got to know the bitter-sweet world of friendship. This is perfectly normal.

As in any human relationship: communication is fundamental. In order to guide our child through the problem of toxic friendship, proper contact and communication is our golden mean. 

If your child is ready to express his feelings – this is the first step to liberation and freedom from bad emotions.

True friendship and self-esteem

Remind your child of his value. As parents, we have tremendous power in shaping our children’s self-esteem. One way is to pay more attention to them. We should also focus on the child’s strengths and abilities. In order to offer friendship to others and receive it in return, children need to remember their good sides.

You can encourage them to be friends and connect with others in their environment. Only openness will allow us to find the truest friends.

Above all, we need to help our children overcome the challenge they face in living in a toxic friendly relationship. Let them understand the bonds they build and participate in. This will enable a stable self-esteem of children and give them a chance to overcome the challenges of adolescence.

True friendship – to get it, you have to give it

The American poet and philosopher Ralph W. Emerson wrote: “The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

Let us remind our children (and ourselves) of this. This will make it easier to understand who a true friend is. When we treat other people properly and do the right thing – we usually get it in return.

Most importantly, children who have received support and guidance from their parents about friendship – have a much greater chance of properly identifying it and recognizing true friends. This will allow them to achieve bulletproof relationships, rewarding experiences, and life happiness.