Hello, Amazing Parents and Caregivers,
November’s theme at Northern Lights Public Schools’ is fostering positive connections and relationships. At Ardmore, the Grade 3’s taught the whole school at our monthly assembly what “ingredients” (qualities) make the best friendship (cookies). Here is the clever recipe the bakers (students) created through lengthy classroom discussions and hands-on testing:
¼ cup helpfulness
½ cup of caring
⅓ cup of joyfulness
3 cups of trust
1 teaspoon empathy
2 cups of respect
7 cups of love
1 heaping tablespoon of sharing
A pinch of happiness
6 cups of time together
At the assembly, the Grade 8s then spoke about the importance of our school’s Buddy Bench in helping student develop friendships. The green and blue Buddy Bench sits at the big playground, and students are aware that when someone is sitting on the bench, it is because they have no one to play with, and it is then their job to go ask the student if they want to play together. This bench has created so many beautiful and healthy friendships at Ardmore School.
Great Children’s Books on Friendship
Big Friends by Linda Sarah
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry (available at the school library)
The Invisible Boy- Trudy Ludwig (available at the school library)
Enemy Pie- Derek Munson
How To Help Your Child Make Friends
- Model good social skills and healthy relationships
- Observe how your child interacts with peers then discuss with them in private
- Teach basic conversation skills- how to start convo, introduce yourself, give compliments, ask open-ended questions
- Role-play interactions at home
- Coordinate play dates so that you/your child knows what to expect
- Teach them how to compromise and negotiate
- Praise and celebrate successes together
Need more help with this topic, or anything related to your child’s well-being? Reach out to Mrs. Webb at danielle.webb@nlsd.ab.ca or call (780) 826-5144.