Friendship Forensics — What Makes Relationships Work?
Parent and child discuss the qualities of good friendships through analysis of real and hypothetical friendship scenarios. The child examines what they value in friendships, analyses social situations with nuance, and explores concepts like boundaries, reciprocity, and toxic versus healthy dynamics. Parent observes social awareness, relationship reasoning sophistication, and the child's understanding of relational boundaries. This reveals social-emotional maturity through thoughtful analysis of the relationships that matter most to tweens.
Free to do together whenever you like.
What you'll need
No materials needed. Find a private, comfortable spot. This activity touches on personal relationships, so create a safe space — assure the child that nothing they say will be shared or used against them. The parent should be genuinely open and vulnerable too, sharing their own friendship experiences. Avoid naming specific current friends to keep the conversation analytical rather than gossip-like.
How it works
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.