Introduction

Friendship is an essential part of every student’s social and emotional development. It is especially important in the context of Special Education, where students may face unique challenges in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Friends should listen to each other, help each other, and have good times together. If a friend is making you feel bad, it’s important to evaluate the situation and consider whether they are acting like a good friend. In this blog post, we will discuss an engaging no-prep activity, thought-provoking discussion questions, and related skills to help educators foster positive friendships among their students.

No-Prep Activity: Friend or Foe?

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It aims to help students understand the difference between positive friendships and negative relationships.

1. Read the following scenario to the students: “Liz and Bobby are friends. One day, Liz shares her excitement about a new song she likes. Bobby responds by saying he hates the song and demands to use Liz’s headphones.”
2. Ask the students if they think Bobby is acting like a good friend. Discuss the reasons why his behavior may not be positive or supportive.
3. Now, read a different scenario: “Liz shares the same excitement with her friends, Andrew and Christine. Andrew agrees that the song is good, and Christine asks if she can borrow Liz’s headphones to listen to it together.”
4. Ask the students how they think Liz feels when she is with Christine and Andrew. Discuss the differences between the two scenarios and how each interaction affects Liz’s feelings.

The goal of this activity is to help students recognize the importance of listening, sharing, and supporting each other in friendships, and identifying when a friend’s behavior may be harmful or unsupportive.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about friendship and positive relationships among your students:

1. What are some qualities of a good friend? How can we show these qualities in our actions and words?
2. How can we handle situations where a friend is not acting positively or supportively? What steps can we take to address the issue?
3. Why is it important to surround ourselves with friends who make us feel happy and supported?
4. How can we be a better friend to others, especially when they may have different needs or challenges?
5. What are some ways we can make new friends and maintain existing friendships in a positive and healthy manner?

Related Skills

Here are some other relevant skills for students to practice in conjunction with building positive friendships:

• Active listening: Paying attention and showing empathy when a friend is speaking.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements or misunderstandings in a constructive manner.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Cooperation: Working together with friends to achieve common goals or complete tasks.
• Respect: Treating friends with kindness, consideration, and appreciation for their unique qualities.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the importance of friendship and how to foster positive relationships among your students, it’s time to put these skills into practice. To help you get started, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our skill-building materials and activities. These resources are designed to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey and help them develop strong, lasting friendships.