What Makes a Good Friend? A Friendship & Feelings Book for Young Children
What makes someone a good friend?
A good friend is kind. A good friend listens. & A good friend cares about your feelings.
But being a good friend is about more than having fun together.
Children need to learn how friendships work. They need to know how to share, listen, talk about feelings, and solve problems. They also need to know when a friendship does not feel right.
What Makes a Good Friend? is a friendship book for children. It helps kids learn what healthy friendship looks like.
Learning About Friendship
Making friends can be exciting. It can also be hard.
Sometimes friends disagree. Sometimes someone gets left out. A friend may say something that hurts your feelings. You may not know what to do next.
That is why it is important for children to learn about friendship.
This book helps children talk about these things. It gives them simple ideas they can understand and use.
Children can learn that good friends:
- Are kind to each other.
- Listen when someone talks.
- Care about each other’s feelings.
- Respect personal space.
- Include others.
- Say sorry when they make a mistake.
- Speak up when something feels wrong.
Kindness Matters
Kindness can make a big difference.
A kind word can make someone feel better. Inviting someone to play can help them feel included. Listening can show a friend that you care.
Small acts of kindness can help build strong friendships.
Children can learn that being kind does not mean they have to do everything someone asks. They can still have their own feelings and needs.
Learning About Boundaries
Everyone has boundaries.
A boundary is a limit that helps us feel safe and comfortable.
Children need to know that it is okay to say no. It is also important to respect another person’s “no.”
For example, a child may not want a hug. That is okay.
A child may want some space. That is okay, too.
Learning about boundaries can help children build safer and healthier friendships.
Feelings Are Important
Friendships can bring many feelings.
Children may feel happy, excited, sad, angry, worried, or left out.
Sometimes they may not know how to explain what they feel.
This book gives children a chance to talk about their feelings. It can help them understand that all feelings matter.
It also helps adults start conversations with children about what is happening in their friendships.
Everyone Deserves to Feel Included
No child wants to feel left out.
Including others is an important part of being a good friend.
Children can learn simple ways to help others feel welcome. They can invite someone to play. They can sit with someone who is alone. & They can listen and show kindness.
A small act can mean a lot.
It Is Okay to Speak Up
Children should know that they have a voice.
If something feels wrong, they can speak up.
They can say no. They can ask for help. They can tell a trusted adult what happened.
Speaking up is not being mean. It is taking care of yourself.
Children should also know that they never have to handle a serious problem alone.
A Book for Parents and Teachers
What Makes a Good Friend? is not only for children.
Parents can use this book to talk about friendship at home. Teachers can use it in the classroom. Counselors can use it to help children talk about feelings and relationships.
The book can be a simple starting point for important conversations.
You do not need to have all the answers.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is listen.
Help Your Child Build Healthy Friendships
Every child deserves to feel safe, included, and valued.
Every child also deserves to learn what a good friendship looks like.
What Makes a Good Friend? helps children learn about kindness, feelings, boundaries, inclusion, and speaking up.
These are skills children can use at school, at home, and with their friends.
Because being a good friend starts with something simple:
Treat people with kindness.
And remember:
You deserve good friends, too.
Get Your Copy Today
Give a child in your life a simple way to learn about friendship.
What Makes a Good Friend? is a helpful resource for children, parents, teachers, caregivers, counselors, and classrooms.
Help children learn how to build friendships that are kind, safe, and respectful.
