Friendship Breakups - How to Help your Child

Might be a great time to get a short book on teaching kids resilience! Friendships are so important to kids, and to adults. It's no surprise that their struggles have a big impact on how our child is feeling, and acting. So what can we do if some good-for-nothing kid hurts our precious darling??

Friend breakups cause real pain.

Don't blow this off. If we ignore our child's sadness or anger or frustration as "normal kid stuff" we don't help them learn all the great (though painful) lessons these moments have to teach. We don't even make them feel better by minimizing it, we just teach them not to bring their pain to us.

Breakups happen! Over and over...

This breakup is the one you're (and your child is) thinking about now. But this is only one in a series. Most relationships end, which is why we value so highly the rare friendships that stand the test of time and struggle.  Since our kids will lose other friends (and loves), this is the time to teach them how to get through that future hurt as well! Breakups are also not always a bad thing... but painful anyhow.

Dr. G has practical, simple tips about navigating these conversations to strengthen your child.

Parents, what have you tried when your child loses a friendship?