Behaviour
Supporting Children with Friendship Issues
A playground falling-out can feel as big to a five-year-old as a disastrous day at work does to you.
- 26 minutes
- 7 modules
- Certificate
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What you'll learn
- Make regular, unhurried time to listen to your child about their friends
- Hold back and let silence do some of the work
- Guide from the side instead of stepping in to fix things
- Give your child a break from friendship worries without dismissing them
- Recognise when a friendship problem means you need to involve the school
About this course
It's tempting to brush off a squabble over who played with whom, or to march in and sort it out. What usually helps more is someone who takes it seriously and then lets them find their own way through.
Being that person is mostly a matter of habit. Build listening into the everyday, on the walk to school or at bath time, and let silences run longer than feels comfortable. Ask "how can I help?" and accept that the answer may be "just listen". When a worry keeps going round in circles, write it down and park it until a set time later. And know when teasing has tipped into bullying and it's time to talk to school.
The child you listen to about the playground now is more likely to come to you with bigger things later.
7 modules
Open in order
- 2 min
Introduction
- 8 min
Just listen
- 5 min
Remember you’re a role model
- 3 min
Remember this feels huge to them
- 4 min
Help them find respite from their worries
- 6 min
Support from the side
- 1 min
Wrap up