21/03/2022
Everyone wants their children to grow up to have healthy, fulfilling relationships. When your kid is only in elementary school, that may seem like a long way off. But learning how to have healthy friendships and treat others with respect early on can help your kid navigate more complicated relationships, including s*xual and romantic relationships, later in life.
Here are 4 tips on how you can help.
Tip number 1: Take some time to think about what being a good friend means to you. Maybe that means someone you can always count on, or someone you always have a good time with. Help your kid set expectations for how their friends should treat them, and how they should treat their friends. Kids learn so much by watching what we do, not just what we tell them they should do. So, model being a good friend to other adults in your life, including family and relationships.
Tip number 2: Teach your kid about setting and respecting boundaries. Teach them to ask before they touch someone else’s body, face, or hair. Help them remember that “no” means “no” and “stop” means “stop.” And let them know that they get to decide who touches their body, too. For example, if they don’t want to hug auntie or have a tickle fight with their brother, they don’t have to. These concepts are the building blocks of consent. Show your kid how you respect other people’s boundaries and set healthy boundaries for yourself with people in your life.
Tip number 3: Practice communication skills. Encourage your kid to take turns listening and talking. Coach them to use “I” statements and talk about how they feel. Help them see the impact of the things they say — both the nice things and the not-so-nice things. Set rules about name-calling, teasing, and physical violence so they know what’s OK and what’s not. And practice what you preach! Take time to listen to your kid, model good communication with other adults, and apologize if you hurt someone’s feelings.
And the most important tip of all: let your kid know that they can always come to you for help — even if they’re worried that you might get upset. Comfort, safety, and love are the most valuable things you can give your child.
Want to learn more? Check out plannedparenthood.org/parents
Watch more Planned Parenthood videos → videos.plannedparenthood.org.
Visit the Planned Parenthood WEBSITE: plannedparenthood.org
Like Planned Parenthood on FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PlannedParenthood
Follow Planned Parenthood on TWITTER: twitter.com/PPFA
Follow Planned Parenthood on INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/plannedparenthood
Follow Planned Parenthood on TUMBLR: plannedparenthood.tumblr.com
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of s*x education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
🎥Planned Parenthood
