Tips on Making Friends

Learning Goals

Identify ways to make new friends Identify different types of friends Describe ways to maintain friendships Describe how to end a friendship or why you should

end a friendship Describe healthy friendships Be able to offer constructive advice

Tips on making friends

Smile: A friendly smile shows a willingness to be spoken to

Remember names: Try repeating a name when you are introduced to someone new, and shake hands

Start a conversation work on asking questions that involve more then a “yes” or “no” answer

Be a good listener Be yourself Get involved: Join clubs, programs, sports Invite someone to join you in an activity: Take the

first step of introducing someone to your favourite activities

Don’t rush a friendship: relationships take time and effort, don’t get clingy too soon

Maintaining friendships

Be willing to put in time and effort into it: you will need to devote time to your friendships

Be open to different friendships; age and gender don’t have to be the same as you

Avoid cliques: these are groups that exclude others from their circle of friendships

Ending friendships

Friendships can end; distance, changes and interests etc. can effect your friendships

Conflict and misunderstanding can happen; work on communication skills to avoid this

Be sensitive about ending friendships; ease out of the relationship, or be direct and honest (depends on the situations)

Sometimes it just happens; be positive about it and move on

Advice

Dear Advisor:

You have probably heard the expression, “opposites attract.” Can this be true in friendships? How can having friends whose tastes or personalities differ from mine be rewarding? Please help me.

Confused

Dear Advisor:

I have a problem. I saw a good friend doing something that I felt was harmful, even dangerous. I didn’t know what to do, so I turned around and walked away. My friend ended up in the hospital. I know that I should have done something, but was afraid of ruining my friendship with this person. How could I have persuaded my friend to stop without ending the friendship?

Guilty

Dear Advisor:

I am friends with two people – Let’s call them Fred and Barney – who cannot stand one another. I enjoy being friends with each of these people. How can I resolve the situation of their dislike for each other without ending one of the friendships?

Split apart

Dear Advisor:

When I was younger I had lots of friends and found it easy to make them, Now that I’m fourteen I have a much harder time making friends. Why is it harder for a teenager to make friends? Can you please give me some suggestions as to how I can make new friends? Thanks.

Lonely

“We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.Even longer,' Pooh answered.”

― A.A. MILNE, WINNIE-THE-POOH