Friendship – How to Raise a Child You Want to Meet at Age 25

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There is only one way to have a friend, and that is to be a friend. Ralph Waldo Emerson

If necessity is the mother of invention, then our children had to find ways to make friends online because we make it difficult to make friends the old fashioned way; on the playground.

We were told we were bad mothers if our children played outside.   The alternative was to keep them inside where they found entertainment watching TV and playing electronic games.

From the time they are babies, we organize play dates, and as young as toddlers, we put them in organized sports. The problem is they have no idea how to organize a pick up game of baseball. They may not even know what a pick up game is.

When their friends do come over, they sit side by side playing electronic games with no face time (I mean that literally).

Left on their own, children invent games on the fly, natural leaders rise to the occasion, and friendships are formed; all with no adult intervention.

Let’s give our children the opportunity to learn how to be a good friend, which includes:

  • Giving them free time – don’t over schedule
  • Making friends a priority
  • Be there for good times and bad times
  • Be honest and kind
  • Be loyal
  • Knowing what to say and when to say it
  • That in time of crisis – drop everything
  • Be happy for them when good things happen to them
  • A smile and positive outlook go a long way!

All week, please look out for ideas to help you and your child discuss friendship on Parental Wisdom’s Facebook page, Twitter Feed and Instagram.

Friends are people you can count on, but don’t need to count on Facebook. This blog post is dedicated to people I am privileged to call my friends.

See you next week!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

#parentalwisdom #friendship #friends #valueoftheweek

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One Response to “Friendship – How to Raise a Child You Want to Meet at Age 25”

  1. Karen Van Cott says:

    I remember the days in Brooklyn having many friends, you had the pick of the liter. If one person was in a bad mood you had others to go on and play with. The person with the bad mood learned to come around or be left out. I totally agree children need to know how to take the good, with the bad, and the ugly. And, certainly not ask their parents how to handle minor problems, let them argue themselves. When I moved to CT I myself taught my sons abut pick up games, once they made friends I walked away knowing that they needed to bond on their own.

    Another thing I experienced was my best friends grandchildren; all fifteen. They argued, pushed shoved and screamed at one another. The parents never got involved now many of them are in their teens with wonderful bonds and love for one another. A true family, I admire.

    Karen

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