Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank You for your support.Making friends is an important part of early years development and can have a lifelong impact on children.
In this blog post, we will discuss why preschoolers need to learn friendship skills, how to teach children social skills, and the benefits they will reap from these skills.
We will also provide some fun preschool friendship activities that can help make lessons about friendship more enjoyable for preschoolers.
What are Preschool Friendship Skills and Why are They Important
Preschool friendship skills are the abilities that children of this age need to develop to get along with their peers and maintain healthy relationships.
Having strong preschool friendship skills helps children during their earliest years of socialization, as they have opportunities to practice interaction on a smaller scale with easier consequences than they would experience later on.
Preschoolers learn how to share, how to listen attentively, how to build cooperation, and how to respect boundaries.
Developing these skills early on is important for their successful transition into elementary school and beyond.
The interpersonal dynamics among young children can be a tricky thing to navigate but having a decent understanding of basic friendship skills creates a valuable foundation for future success in personal relationships.
How to Teach Friendship Skills in Preschool
Teaching children friendship skills is not as difficult as it might seem.
Foster an Open and Caring Environment
It's important to focus on fostering an open and caring environment where kids naturally gravitate towards one another, practice kindness through group activities, projects, or playtime with one another, and feel an inherent desire to help each other out.
When children are comfortable with themselves, it becomes easier for them to develop meaningful relationships with others.
Model the Behavior You Expect from Them.
Show preschoolers how to be kind, compassionate, and respectful of each other by being a good example yourself.
Demonstrate how to establish boundaries related to friendship, show how you ask for help from friends when needed, and use kind words when talking about friends even if you’ve had a disagreement or don’t agree on every point.
Modeling these behaviors gives young kids opportunities to incorporate them into their own lives and learn from their experiences.
Here is an article that might be helpful- How To Be A Good Role Model To Kids-15 Characteristics
Have Conversations about Feelings and Interests
To encourage healthy friendships with peers, adults should also be intentional in building relationships between kids by organizing activities that allow them to socialize (spend time) with friends or have conversations about feelings and interests within the safe confines of their educational setting or home life.
This type of guidance allows preschoolers to learn invaluable lessons on how to build strong bonds with others while instilling essential values like understanding, acceptance, and support.
Reinforce the importance of listening and paying attention to others instead of monopolizing conversations.
Here is a helpful article on How to Teach Kids About Feelings and Emotions
Encourage Turn Taking and Sharing
Encourage preschoolers to take turns in activities, practice sharing, and find creative ways to cooperate.
Having preschoolers play games and do activities together can be a great way for them to learn how to work together as a team and practice constructive communication.
Here is a helpful article on How to Teach Kids Sharing Skills- Benefits and Boundaries
Create Opportunities for Teamwork
Teamwork is an important tool for children to practice and develop their social skills, including friendship.
Working together on meaningful tasks allows children to become aware of their own unique strengths, as well as the strengths of others.
As they learn how to collaborate, they'll discover how everyone's contribution can be valued in a team setting.
The opportunity to develop friendships through successful teamwork builds mutual trust and respect among peers, further strengthening relationships with each other.
By developing friendships through teamwork, kids will also learn invaluable lessons that extend far beyond the group activity; learning to appreciate diversity and different perspectives, recognizing what contributes to overall success, and understanding that there is power in individuals working collaboratively towards a shared goal.
The Benefits of Teaching Preschoolers Friendship Skills
1. Improved Self-Esteem
When preschoolers are successful in creating and maintaining friendships with their peers, it boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
They learn that interacting with others can be fun and rewarding, which sets them up for long-term success in relationships throughout life.
If your child is struggling with positive self-esteem, this article could be helpful- How To Help Your Child Build Better Self Esteem-7 Best Preschool Activities
2. Conflict Resolution Skills
Preschoolers learn how to deal with difficult situations and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.
Developing these skills early on can help preschoolers avoid violent or aggressive behavior when they face disagreements.
3. Develop Empathy and Understanding
Friendship activities also help preschoolers understand the feelings of others, including their friends, and recognize different points of view.
Learning to take another’s perspective can help preschoolers become more understanding and compassionate, which are valuable traits for any age.
Here’s another helpful article- How to Teach Empathy to Kids- With Everyday Opportunities and Pre-school Activities
4. Language Development / Communication skills
Communication is an essential tool for preschoolers to cultivate and practice.
Being able to communicate clearly, helps children better understand their own needs and wants, as well as those of the people around them.
It also allows them to express themselves in a positive, appropriate way that invites open dialogue with their peers.
Through this, preschoolers have the opportunity to make friends and form relationships with other children their age.
They can connect through shared interests, solve problems together, and learn how to accept each other's differences — all of which foster the skills necessary for meaningful relationships for years to come.
5. Form a Sense of Belonging
Having a sense of belonging helps children build strong and meaningful friendships.
Building on that foundation of acceptance and camaraderie, children are more likely to open up and explore new experiences with those around them.
Through the process of developing various connections, young people discover the importance of trust, communication, respect, mutual understanding and shared values - all essential foundations for lasting friendships.
These qualities also allow them to develop resilience as they grapple with difficult experiences in life, providing support from peers.
They begin to understand how they fit into a larger community, which builds self-awareness and helps preschoolers feel respected and included.
Here is an article on- 17 Tips on How to Help Your Child Become More Resilient
Fun Activities to Help Preschoolers Learn About Friendships
1. Make Friendship Bracelets
Making friendship bracelets is a great activity for preschoolers because it teaches them how to be cooperative and share while also creating something that they can keep or give away as a gift.
2. Play “I spy”
This game encourages preschoolers to pay attention and work together to find the correct answer.
It also requires preschoolers to use their communication skills in order to give hints or ask for help from others.
3. Have a Picnic
Picnics are fun, interactive activities that preschoolers can do with their friends.
They get to practice sharing snacks and toys, learn to talk in a group setting with other children, and develop their social skills.
4. Make Friendship Cards
Making friendship cards is another great activity that preschoolers can do with friends.
They will learn the concept of giving and receiving and practice basic writing skills while they create uplifting messages to give away.
5. Play Freeze Dance
Playing freeze dance is a great way to teach preschoolers how to take turns and interact with each other in a fun, non-threatening environment.
They make also practice their physical skills as they jump and dance around the room.
6.Ball Games
Ball games such as catch, hopscotch, and four square can help teach kids how to interact with each other in a fun way.
They also get to practice taking turns and using creative problem-solving skills to figure out the rules.
7.Role Play
Role play is an engaging activity that kids can do in order to practice their communication skills. They get to act out various scenarios, allowing them to practice communicating with each other in a safe environment.
8.Read Books about Friendship
Reading books about friendship is another great way to help preschoolers learn about the importance of strong relationships.
Friendship stories can explain and demonstrate what it means to be a good friend in an age-appropriate and engaging manner.
Here are some great books about friendship in our favorite ‘Todd the Frog’ Series
9.Waterplay
Water play is a fun and interactive way for children to practice teamwork.
They can work together to fill buckets with water, build dams and make boats that float. It’s also a great activity for preschoolers to do on hot days when they need to cool off.
10.Painting Murals
Painting murals is a great way for preschoolers to express their creativity and work together.
They can practice making decisions as a group and take turns adding to the mural in order to create something amazing.
11.Pretend Campfire Stories for Learning
How will Teaching Preschoolers Friendship Skills Benefit Them in the Long Run?
Teaching preschoolers’ friendship skills is an important part of development as it will benefit them in the long run.
Not only will your preschooler learn the basics of social interaction, but they will also gain a better understanding of themselves, their peers, and their place in the larger society.
They will be able to apply these lessons to form strong relationships and connections, leading to more successful interactions in school, work, and life.
Children will have a greater sense of self-esteem and confidence which is necessary for success.
Furthermore, preschoolers who are taught friendship-building skills are more likely to be proactive problem solvers as they learn how to navigate tough social situations with grace and resilience.
In short, kids who are taught friendship skills will be better equipped to handle the challenges of life as they grow older.
