Building Strong Friendships: Skills: Kindness, Communication, and Connection

Friendship is one of the most essential parts of growing up! Learners will develop the skills to build and maintain meaningful friendships in this ongoing class. Through fun activities, group discussions, and role-playing, we’ll explore essential friendship-building skills such as:  
- Active listening and empathy  
- Communication and conflict resolution  
- Setting boundaries and respecting others  
- Recognizing healthy vs. unhealthy friendships  
- Building confidence in social settings  

We’ll focus on a specific theme each week and engage in exercises to practice what we learn. Students can share their thoughts, reflect on their experiences, and celebrate their successes in building strong peer connections.  

**What to Expect:**  
- **Weekly Themes:** Topics like kindness, teamwork, trust, and problem-solving.  
- **Interactive Activities:** Games, group challenges, and collaborative exercises.  
- **Safe and Supportive Environment:** A welcoming space for students to express themselves and grow.  

Our Schedule as the following:

**Week of February 2nd: What Makes a Good Friend?**  
- Explore the qualities of a good friend and reflect on what students value in their friendships.  

**Week of February 9th: The Power of Kindness**  
- Learn how small acts of kindness can strengthen friendships and practice ways to be kind in everyday interactions.  

**Week of February 16th: Active Listening**  
- Understand the importance of listening to friends and practice active listening skills through fun activities.  

**Week of February 23rd: Empathy: Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes**  
- Discuss what empathy means and role-play situations to build understanding and compassion.  

**Week of March 2nd: Building Trust**  
- Explore the role of trust in friendships and practice trust-building games and exercises.  

**Week of March 9th: Healthy Communication**  
- Learn how to express feelings and needs respectfully and effectively.  

**Week of March 16th: Navigating Conflict**  
- Discuss common friendship conflicts and practice handling them calmly and respectfully.  

**Week of March 30th: Setting Boundaries**  
- Understand personal boundaries and practice communicating them with friends.  

**Week of April 6th: Teamwork and Collaboration**  
- Engage in group activities highlighting the importance of working together and supporting friends.  

**Week of April 20th: How to Make New Friends**  
- Learn strategies for starting conversations, finding common interests, and meeting new people.  

**Week of April 27th: Handling Peer Pressure**  
- Discuss peer pressure and how it affects friendships, and practice saying “no” confidently.  

**Week of May 4th: Being a Good Digital Friend**  
- Explore online friendships, internet safety, and how to communicate kindly in digital spaces.  

**Week of May 11th: Recognizing Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendships**  
- Identify the signs of healthy and unhealthy friendships and discuss what to do when friendships feel one-sided or hurtful.  

**Week of May 18th: Building Confidence in Social Situations**  
- Practice overcoming shyness and participating in group conversations with fun confidence-boosting exercises.  

**Week of May 25th: The Art of Apologizing**  
- Learn how to apologize sincerely and repair friendships after disagreements.  

**Week of June 1st: The Importance of Humor in Friendships**  
- Explore how shared laughter strengthens bonds and practice using humor positively.  

**Week of June 8th: Showing Gratitude**  
- Discuss ways to show appreciation for friends and create gratitude cards or notes.  

**Week of June 15th: Supporting Friends Through Tough Times**  
- Learn to be there for friends during challenging moments and practice offering support.  

**Week of June 22nd: Celebrating Friendships**  
- Reflect on what students have learned and celebrate their friendships through a fun group activity.