How to choose good friends: A guide for third graders

📚 What Makes a Good Friend?

Having good friends is super important! Good friends make us feel happy, supported, and loved. They're the people we can trust and have fun with. But how do you know who will be a good friend?

🗓️ A Little History of Friendship

People have been making friends since the beginning of time! Even cavemen probably had buddies to hunt with. Friendship helps us learn, grow, and stay safe. Through history, friends have helped each other through all sorts of challenges.

🌟 Key Principles of Choosing Good Friends

• 🤝 Kindness: Look for friends who are kind to others. Do they share their toys? Do they help people who are sad? Kindness is a big sign of a good friend.
• 🗣️ Honesty: Good friends tell the truth, even when it's hard. They don't lie or try to trick you.
• 👂 Listening: A good friend listens when you talk. They care about what you have to say and try to understand how you feel.
• 🤹 Fun: Friends should make you laugh and have fun! Look for people who enjoy playing the same games or doing the same activities as you.
• ❤️ Respect: Good friends respect your feelings and ideas, even if they are different from their own.

🌍 Real-World Examples

Example 1: Imagine you're playing tag at recess, and someone falls down and scrapes their knee. A good friend would help them up and make sure they're okay.

Example 2: Suppose you're working on a school project, and you're having trouble with a question. A good friend would offer to help you figure it out, without just giving you the answer.

Example 3: Let's say you are feeling sad because you didn't get picked for the soccer team. A good friend would listen to you and try to cheer you up.

💡 Tips for Making New Friends

• 🙋 Be Friendly: Smile and say hello to people you want to be friends with.
• 🧸 Share: Share your toys or snacks with others.
• ✏️ Join Activities: Join clubs or sports teams to meet people who like the same things you do.
• 💖 Be Yourself: Don't try to be someone you're not. Good friends will like you for who you are.

✅ Conclusion

Choosing good friends is a big part of growing up! By looking for kindness, honesty, listening, fun, and respect, you can find friends who will make your life better. Remember to be a good friend, too! Treat others the way you want to be treated, and you'll have lots of awesome friends in no time! 🎉