Having good friends is an important part of our lives, but at times making friends and keeping them isn’t easy. Of course, one of the basic things in having a good friend is being a good friend, but what does it take to be a good friend?

Friends will come and go in our lives, but generally speaking, good friends tend to have the following qualities:

•  They make you feel good
•  They support and help you in times of need or when things get tough
•  They encourage and inspire you
•  They are honest; you can trust them; and they respect you
•  They know how to listen and to share their thoughts and feelings

Take a look at these quotes about friendship. Which ones do you agree with? How would you define friendship?

Even though it is important to have good friends to help and support us, it is also important to know how to be on our own and to be self-confident. After all, the longest relationship you will have in your life is with yourself! Make sure you learn to appreciate the positive things about yourself, and that you are able to laugh at yourself and think about things that you really enjoy doing.

Friendship Activities:

What makes a good friend mind map
Draw a mind map and think of different qualities you think good friends have. When you have finished, share your ideas with someone, and see if you agree on what it takes to be a good friend.

Write an acrostic poem dedicated to a good friend
An acrostic poem is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word or forms part of a phrase. Write the name of a good friend vertically on a piece of paper and think of words or phrases about why this person is a good friend.

 

 

Qualities of a good friend

Copy this chart on a piece of paper or a notebook. Think of six words to describe what you think makes a good friend. From the list of six, think of the three qualities that are most important to you. Then, from the list of three, think about which of these qualities you see as being the most important. When you are finished, share your answers with a friend.

 

 

Write an adjectives poem about a good friend

Think of different adjectives to describe a good friend and write a poem about that person. You can use the following structure:
(Your friend’s name) …………………………….
(Two adjectives to describe your friend) …………………………………….
(Where your friend is or might be) …………………………………….
(What is your friend doing (2 –ing words)) ………………………………………..
(Two more adjectives to describe your friend) ……………………………………..
(Your friend’s name) ……………………………………….

 

For example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

………………………………………………………..

Keep in mind that having good friends and being a good friend is an important part of our lives and can have an impact on our happiness and well-being. So, good luck being a good friend and developing rewarding friendships in your life!

Nina Lauder