Relationships and friendships At home, school and in the community

Relationships Connections between people. People need relationships at every stage of their lives.

1st relationship= caregivers School = new friends, peers, teachers As you develop = form 1st friendship (playmates) Grow up = circle widens to include community

Relationships and friendships in the community Your neighbours People who work in the local shops Your health care providers People who look after community safety (police/ security guards) People in your faith community such as your church or mosque People you play sport with or People who share your interests with (choir) People who provide services (postal worker, bus driver, hairdresser)

VS

Relationships and friendships Complete activity 5.1. in your workbook.

Characteristics of healthy relationships and friendships Healthy = Make you feel good about yourself Unhealthy = make you feel sad, angry and scared

Characteristics of healthy relationships and friendships Communication Sharing and caring (empathy) Mutual respect and trust Honesty and fairness (compromise)

Appropriate ways to initiate a relationship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyIw0Z0aOqA To initiate = tot start it / get it going

Appropriate ways to initiate a relationship How to initiate a friendship: Go to places you will meet people with the same interests as you. Start a conversation about something you both have in common. Join a club or take a class in art/ dancing. Do volunteer work.

Appropriate ways to initiate a relationship Ask questions like: What sport do you play? What movies do you enjoy? What are you reading at the moment? What kind of music do you like?

Appropriate ways to initiate a relationship Tell the person a little about yourself (BUT don’t talk too much) Be authentic! Accept the person for who he or she is.

Appropriate ways to sustain a relationship Tips: Work on the basics (good communication, sharing and caring, mutual respect, honesty and fairness) Make the time and effort Make sure that your friendship is mutual. Make the friend feel special. Trust each other.

Appropriate ways to sustain a relationship Tips: Laugh together and cry together. Support each other through good times and bad. Understand that in every friendship there will be arguments. Do activity 5.4.

Problem- solving skills in relation to appropriate behaviour USE the five-step IDEAL problem-solving skills to solve problems in a relationship. Identify the problem Describe possible solutions Evaluate each option Act on the chosen strategy Look back and learn

Problem- solving skills in relation to appropriate behaviour Complete activity 5.5. in your workbook

Communication skills: ability to disagree in constructive ways Think about the disagreement and how you feel about it. Get together with the other person to discuss the problem. Take turns to speak and listen. Each person should forward his/her point of view. Listen carefully without interrupting and check that you have understood correctly.

Communication skills: ability to disagree in constructive ways Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and understand them. Stay calm and talk clearly, confidently and honestly about your point of view. Use reason rather than emotion. There is no place for threats, attacks or rudeness. Focus on finding constructive solutions, not on being right or blaming one another. If you cannot agree= respectfully agree to disagree

Appropriate ways to end a relationship Might end because: You both feel that you have changed and no longer get on well. You have a disagreement. You move on.

Appropriate ways to end a relationship Be honest and straightforward. No need to be rude or to start ignoring the other person. Communication is important. Be kind to yourself, turn to friends for support and allow yourself the emotions that you feel.