How to Help Your Children Cultivate Good Friendships
As parents, we know how important friendships are in shaping our children's experiences and helping them grow. Friendships provide kids with a sense of belonging, encourage them to develop social skills, and give them an outlet to express themselves freely. But how can we help our children cultivate strong, healthy friendships?
One of the best ways to support your child’s social growth is by fostering an environment that encourages unscripted play, welcoming other children into your home, and sparking creativity and imagination. Here are a few key ways to do this.
Encourage Unscripted Play
In a world filled with structured activities and screen time, giving children space for free, unstructured play is essential. When kids engage in unscripted play, they learn to solve problems, collaborate with others, and explore their imagination—all key components of building good friendships. Unscripted playtime allows them to lead and follow, negotiate roles, and strengthen their communication skills, all while having fun with friends.
Open Your Home to Friends
Welcoming your children’s friends into your home creates a safe and nurturing space for their friendships to grow. By inviting other kids over, you not only give your child opportunities to form stronger bonds but also model hospitality and kindness. Providing a comfortable, relaxed environment for playdates can encourage your child’s friends to feel at home, laying the groundwork for deep, lasting connections.
Encourage Friendship with Positive Values
Teaching your children the value of kindness, empathy, and respect for others is crucial in helping them build good friendships. Encourage them to reach out to new children at school or church and show appreciation for the friends they already have. Talk with your children about Christian friendship and what that means to them.
Foster Creativity and Imagination
Creativity and imagination not only enrich your child’s personal development but also strengthen friendships. Whether it’s building forts, creating imaginary worlds, or drawing together, creative play opens up opportunities for collaboration and shared adventures. Provide your children with simple, open-ended toys or art supplies that allow them and their friends to explore, imagine, and express themselves.
By fostering unscripted play, welcoming other children into your home, and encouraging creativity, you can help your child to cultivate the skills they need to form healthy, meaningful friendships. With your guidance and support, your child can grow into a thoughtful, caring friend who values connection and imagination.
“‘Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'
'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.'"
— E.B. White, Charlotte's Web
Promoting Unscripted Play:
6 Items to Have on Hand
Do you want your children to become more self-sufficient and imaginative but don't know where to begin? Here are some great items to have around your house that promote unscripted play.
Building Blocks or Magnetic Tiles – Open-ended construction toys allow kids to build anything they can imagine, promoting creativity and teamwork.
Dress-Up Clothes and Props – A box of costumes and simple props encourages imaginative role-playing and storytelling.
Play Kitchen or Tool Sets – These sets let kids imitate real-life activities and create their own scenarios, fostering collaboration and creativity.
Art Supplies – Simple materials like paper, markers, clay, or paint allow children to express themselves freely without rules, inspiring creativity.
Books – Providing your children with the opportunity to read and encouraging their love for stories allows them to be more imaginative on their own and with others.
Outdoor Nature Exploration Kits – A collection of magnifying glasses, bug-catching jars, and binoculars encourages exploration and discovery in the natural world.
Click here for a helpful article on what to say to your children when they are bored.
Upcoming Seminar: "Why Little Things Matter"
In a few weeks, Art of Living for Women in the Midwest is hosting a seminar called "Why Little Things Matter: Especially When You Are Empty Nesters." In the first class of the seminar, Gladys Davis, mother of 6 and grandmother of many will share her tips on downsizing, minimizing clutter, and simplifying your home with a cheerful attitude!
In the second class of this seminar, Heide Kenny will share research on the MIND diet and how eating “Brain Healthy” foods can actually help with memory and slow cognitive aging.
Registration for this seminar is now closed, but to explore this topic and all the seminars we offer, check out the Events and Seminar Blueprints pages on our website.
