Kids.Social Development: The Power of Friendship on Children

When children start to mingle with other children of similar age, worries might start to hit parents. Many parents show great concern on with whom their child plays because they are afraid that their child will be influenced in the negative way.

However, instead of stopping your child from making friends, let them make friends freely. The friendship that your child seeks is important for healthy emotional and social development. Furthermore, research shows that children with friends have higher self-esteem and sense of well-being but fewer social problems as adults.

Why children need friendship?

To learn how to weigh alternatives and make decisions when faced with dilemmas.

To experience anger, aggression, fear and rejection and how to cope with these emotions.

To learn to be around different people and different behaviours and to understand that everyone has different viewpoints.

To learn to share, love and support each other in good and bad days.

To learn that they are similar to and different from each other.

To increase their self-esteem.

What parents can do to encourage friendship?

Invite your child’s friends over for a meal, an outing or a party.

Respect your child’s social style as some children do best in a large group while others do best in a smaller group of peers.

Encourage your child to play with his/her peers and join outings together.

Let your child make friends freely.

Guide your child on friendship development and how to maintain friendship in a positive way.

During this International Day of Friendship (by United Nations) which falls on 30 July 2013, why not organise some activities for your child and his/her friends, such as exchanging gifts, going on a trip or having a little party, as a way to foster and strengthen the bond of friendship?

Read more on the concept of sharing in Kids.Social Development: Teaching Your Child on Sharing