Focus on the Family's Focus on Your Child Enjoy the Journey
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Membership | Resources | FAQs
Focus on the Family's Focus on Your Child Enjoy the Journey
EducationHealthDevelopmentRelationshipsFaithEntertainmentThe Big Picture

 

  Archive
  Forum
  Sign Up
  Resource Center
  Parenting Insights™
  The Call™
  Member Services
   
  Radio
  Family Minute
  Weekend Magazine


Relationship Topics

Healthy Friendships

Parents play a crucial part in teaching their children how to develop and maintain healthy friendships. By modeling and discussing the virtues necessary, you can protect your child from many of the heartaches stemming from unwise associations.

Essential Virtues for Healthy Friendships

• Honesty. By teaching your child to be truthful, she will be more likely to develop friendships with those who don’t lie.

• Loyalty. By teaching your child to be faithful, she will be less likely to be a fair-weather friend — and will more likely stand up for her friends in times of trouble.

• Respect. By teaching your child that everyone has a sense of dignity, she will be more likely to show consideration and thoughtfulness to others.

• Compassion. By teaching your child to understand the hearts of others, she will be more likely to offer sensitivity to those who are hurting or needy.

• Acceptance. By teaching your child to reach out to those who are different, she will be more likely to build friendships with those whom others reject.

— Carolynne Holmes

Do you have thoughts, questions, advice on this topic? Post your stories and comments in the forum for other parents to respond to. Enter the forum now.

On This Topic
• Introduction
• Self-Confidence
• Avoiding Cliques
• Cootie Phenomenon
• Helping Your Child Make Friends


Home | About Us | Contact Us | Membership | Resources | FAQs

A Ministry of Focus on the Family
Copyright © 2005 Focus on the Family
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
(800) A-FAMILY (232-6459)
Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Return to Top