One of the most important factors in your happiness is your ability to make friends. Some people are naturally shy and have a problem reaching out to others no matter how desperately they want to. Other people have trouble connecting with kids their age because they feel like they’re different. Some people have problems that interfere with their social skills. Whatever the reason a person is having problems associating with others, here are some ideas that can help. These are 5 ways you can help yourself and others make friends:
~~ 1. Get Involved
Whatever you enjoy doing find a group to do it with. If you like acting, art or athletics there are organized groups that will not only let you enjoy the activity but will also let you meet people who share your interest.
If you enjoy playing sports like soccer or baseball, join a team. If you feel unsure about your sports skills, take time to practice batting, kicking, pitching and catching- whatever skills are involved in the sport. You don’t have to be the best. Just do your best.
Do the same thing if your interests are chess or computers, for example.
If you haven’t decided on a specific interest yet, you might enjoy becoming a Boy Scout or a Girl Scout. Organizations such as these offer children a wide variety of activities they can enjoy.
~~ 2. Learn Some Common Social Rules
If you treat others with respect you will naturally attract more friends and have more meaningful relationships in school and at church. To help make friends, learn the common social rules. The “golden rule” is “Treat others like you want them to treat you.” This means, no hitting, stealing, cheating, lying, yelling or being mean in any way. Share your stuff and try to be nice so other people will want to be your friend.
~~ 3. Let Your Parents Get Involved
Another way you can make friends is to let your parents get involved with school and church. Whenever your parents volunteer with PTA, with the church youth group, as Sunday school teachers, soccer coaches or other things you’re involved with they’ll be able to meet your friends and your friends’ parents. This will make your family the center of the fun. Other kids will get to know you and your parents. Other mom and dads are going to want their kids to be around you if your parents are super involved.
~~ 4. Have Your Whole Family Communicate With Other Parents
This will make you over-the-top popular.
You may be embarrassed by your parents, everyone is sometimes. But, if other parents get to know you and your parents know your friends you will be much better off because you will get to hang out a lot more. It will help you make friends. It will also let your parents meet the the other kids parents.
Here’s an idea, tell your mom
or dad who you want to be friends with in school or at church. Then, ask your parents to call some of your friends’ parents to invite them and their children over.
~~ 5. Communicate by Talking and Listening
Being a friend means more than just doing fun stuff. It means helping others. If you don’t have two-way communication with your friends, then you can’t help them. Talk to them about any problems they’re having and offer to help them if you can. Be careful because your friend may not want or need your help right then, but it is important to be willing to help and to let your friend know you want to do whatever you can to help.
Don’t try to jump in and solve your friend’s problems for them. Part of growing up is learning how to deal with different situations, no matter how difficult they may be.
~~ 6 Bonus Idea — PRAY for Your Friends
You might not know everything that is going on in a person’s life but you can pray for them anyway.