At URSTRONG, we look at social-emotional wellbeing through the lens of friendship. This month, we’re zooming in on COURAGE… We believe courage is when we feel butterflies, but do it anyways – because it’s the right thing to do. This might look like inviting a new friend to join the handball game, letting our friend know they hurt our feelings, or apologizing to a friend for not listening to their ideas.
While courage can feel easy for some children and incredibly difficult for others, the great news is that it is a skill that can be taught. Like a muscle, courage can grow when we practise – through little moments of bravery in our friendships.
As our favourite anxiety expert, Karen Young, describes: “Courage isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us ‘not scared’. It’s about something magical that happens inside us to make us push through fear, self-doubt, anxiety, and do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening. Sometimes, courage only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough.”
Whether you are a teacher or a parent, enjoy our Courage Freebie to spark a conversation around courage, bravery, and inner-strength. Ask your students or child: “What does it mean to grow up & become who you really are?” Get them to share examples of how they are courageous in their friendships. Show them this gorgeous video from CBC Small Talk on “Being Normal”.
Let us know how it goes by tagging us on social media or reaching out directly at info@urstrong.com. We’d love to see your courageous Friendship Ninjas!
Direct from our 2022 Friendship Journals: “Friendship Ninjas are courageous! Can you think of a time you had to apologize to your friend? That took courage! Can you think of a time you stood up for a friend? That really took courage! Making friends takes a bit of courage too – but it feels so much easier when you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve!”
Our Friendology curriculum + weekly friendship lessons include step-by-step strategies to help children make new friends. Join our global community of URSTRONG Schools!
