Why do we need friends?
When you think of a friend, what are some of the things you think of? A person you can trust? A person you get along with really well? Someone who has the same sense of humor as you do?
A friend is any person who fits these descriptions, as well as many others. It's important to have friends because it's important to have a "support system" of people you can depend on.
When we think of "friends" we often think of people we aren't related to, like a kid you know from school or from the house next door. But friends can definitely also include your relatives like siblings, cousins, or even parents! The neat thing about friends is that they come in lots of shapes and sizes, and there's no limit on how many you can have!
Some people have a really easy time making friends, while others take longer getting to know people. As you grow up, you might find that you like having lots and lots of different friends, or that you prefer having just one or two friends that you're really, really close to!
Exploration
Friendly Fun!
Think about who some of your closest friends are. Are they the kids from your sports team or your art class? Are they people in your grade, or in another grade at your school? Don't forget to think about some of your family members who are your friends, too! Draw a picture of you and all of your friends. Include details that show how you relate to each friend. For example, if you and your friend Kelly always play together on the playground, put Kelly in your picture hanging off the monkey-bars!
