Language of Friendship Session 2: How to Make Friends

Healthy Relationships

Video Glossary

Glossary of Terms

At URSTRONG, we believe it’s important to use kids’ language for kids’ problems. That’s why we have our very own, unique language of friendship. Here are some important terms that children, parents, and teachers learn in our program.

Friendship Fire®: Any situation between you and a friend that results in negative feelings.

Mean-on-Purpose: When someone is intentionally unkind to someone else.

Quick Comeback: A very short word or phrase that is used when someone is Mean-on-Purpose. Quick Comebacks are designed to let the other person know that you heard/saw what they did and you’re not okay with it.

Friend-o-meter: A visual tool that assesses the health of friendships, ranging from the healthy zone to the unhealthy zone.

Friend-o-cycle: The normal cycle in a friendship that brings the friendship back to the healthy zone after experiencing a Friendship Fire. The phases of the Friend-o-cycle are: Healthy Friendship – Fire – Confront the issue – Talk-it-Out – Forgive & Forget – Closer & Stronger – Healthy Friendship…

4 Friendship Facts: A set of four facts that help us have realistic expectations in our friendships so we understand what is normal.

No friendship (relationship) is perfect.
Every friendship is different.
Trust & Respect are the two most important qualities of a friendship.
Friendships change…and that’s okay.

Red Shirt Girl and Striped Shirt Boy: Two characters that remind us about the importance of body language.

Friendship Ninja: A Friendship Ninja is someone who surrounds themselves with friends in the healthy zone of the Friend-o-meter. A Friendship Ninja is kind and friendly to everyone. A Friendship Ninja understands the 4 Friendship Facts and puts out their Friendship Fires when they ignite. A Friendship Ninja stands up for themselves and their friends. A Friendship Ninja makes new friends and understands that friendships change…and that’s okay. Above all else, a Friendship Ninja is someone you want to be friends with because they’re true to who they are!

Objective

Did you know that making new friends is a skill and not everyone is naturally good at it? I know it can feel awkward sometimes. There’s an art to sparking a conversation and then taking it to that next level of friendship. It’s not always easy, but I’m going to teach you some tricks to help you make new friends and feel a little less awkward while you’re at it.

Grown-ups, it’s time to put your Friendship Coach hat on. This workshop is so much fun and you’re going to help your ‘child’ get really comfortable with introducing themselves, rolling with a conversation, and ultimately making new friends.

Your Friend,
Dana

This session teaches children how to spark a new friendship. Kids learn how to introduce themselves and then practice the art of conversation, an important life skill that is often overlooked and not explicitly taught. Once children know how to hold a conversation, they learn how to take it to the next level by finding something in common with someone to plant the seed for a new friendship to grow.