Friendship Resources

Introduction

Everyone needs friends. They provide emotional support, companionship, checks on our behaviour and someone to share and recall life experiences with. For children they are initially someone to play with, to share games and imaginative play with. At school, friends provide partners during paired work, allies during playtime and become increasingly important in helping with social adjustment into the school and wider community culture. Children who struggle with understanding social rules and boundaries often experience difficulties forming and maintaining friendships. Explicit teaching of the social rules of friendship can have real benefits for these children.