BUILDING POSITIVE FRIENDSHIPS What is Positive Friendship? Discussion question: What do you think is the most important quality in a good friendship? Positive friendships are built on three pillars: 1. Trust – Being reliable and honest with each other. 2. Respect – Valuing each other’s feelings and opinions. 3. Support – Encouraging each other to make good choices. Conflict in Friendships Scenario: Emma sees her friend Jay take something from another student’s locker. She feels torn: should she talk to Jay, tell a teacher, or stay quiet? What would you do in Emma’s place? •Disagreements are normal, but how you handle them matters. •Unhealthy behaviors: • Gossiping or trying to get someone into trouble. • Ignoring harmful behavior to avoid confrontation. •Healthy behaviors: • Talking about disagreements respectfully. • Asking for help when the problem feels too big. Helping vs. Hurting Discussion question: Can you think of a way to help a friend without hurting their feelings? •Helping a friend means: • Guiding them to make better choices. • Speaking up if they’re in trouble or danger. •Hurting a friend includes: • Letting them continue harmful behavior. • Reporting with the intent to embarrass or harm them. Real Friendship Is... Discussion question: Share a time when a friend helped you grow or made a positive impact on your life. Friendship Pledge Let’s all make a friendship pledge: I pledge to support my friends with honesty and kindness, to speak up when it matters, and to always encourage the best in them. Think of one way to be a better friend this week. And do it! THANK YOU
