Friendship and Kindness
What Makes a Good Friend?
Qualities of a Good Friend
What makes a good friend?
Having good friends makes you happy, and being a good friend to others makes them happy, too. Think about your friendships - are you being a good friend? Are your friends being a good friend to you?
Good friends make you feel good
Good friends say and do things that make you feel good, giving compliments and congratulations and being happy for you.
Good friends support each other
If you’re feeling down, a good friend will support you. If you need help, a good friend will try to help you out.
Good friends don’t always have everything in common
Everyone is different, and has different hobbies and interests. Even if you’re not into the exact same things, a good friend will encourage you rather than making you feel bad for liking a different band, activity, TV show or animal! A good friend understands that sometimes you do your own thing, and enjoys doing the things you have in common together.
Good friends listen
A good friend allows you to talk and doesn’t interrupt you. They’re interested in what you have to say.
Good friends are trustworthy
If you tell a good friend something private, they won’t share it. You can trust a good friend not to be judgmental.
Good friends handle conflict respectfully and respect boundaries
Sometimes you and your friend might disagree on something. Sometimes you might have said or done something that upset your friend. A good friend will tell you if you’ve done something to hurt them. If you tell a good friend they’ve hurt you, they’ll be sorry and won’t do it again.
Good friendships go both ways
It’s not a good friendship if one of you is doing all the talking and the other is doing all the listening, all the time. Good friends make each other feel good, rather than one friend receiving all the compliments and the other giving them all the time. In a good friendship, you’re making each other feel great!
Having a group of friends
Don’t limit yourself by having just one “best friend”. Your friendship is something special which you can share with everyone who needs a friend! Sometimes friends drift apart or fall out. That’s a part of life. Having more than one friend means it’s more likely there will be someone who can help you when you need it.
Friends not followers
In the digital world you can feel under pressure to have a lot of friends and followers. Remember that you only need a small circle of friends to be happy, and it’s a good idea to keep your most precious (and private) thoughts and moments for those that really care about you.
The Science of Kindness
Kindness is more than behavior. The art of kindness means harboring a spirit of helpfulness, as well as being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return. Kindness is a quality of being. The act of giving kindness often is simple, free, positive and healthy.
Good for the body
Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you a focus activity, especially if you tend to be anxious or stressed in some social situations.
Good for the mind
Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released.
Be kind to yourself
It is not just how you treat other people — it is how you extend those same behaviors and intentions to yourself as well. I believe you can be kinder in your own self-talk and practice gratitude. People are good at verbally beating themselves up, and rarely does that work as a pep talk. Rather, negativity often causes you to unravel and may even create a vicious cycle of regularly getting down on yourself. You wouldn't talk to your neighbor the way you sometimes talk to yourself. This is what I call the “good neighbor policy,” which can be helpful. If you would not say it to your good neighbor, do not say it about yourself.
Take action
Simply asking "How am I going to practice kindness today?" can be helpful. This positive focus is like planting positive seeds in your mind garden. Where focus goes, energy flows.
Read Aloud About Kindness
Read Aloud About Kindness
Video About Kindness
For further details or information, please contact your child's School Counselor
J. Madison Primary
(732) 452-2990 x61003
Lia.abernathy@edison.k12.nj.us
Mr. Doug Ford
J. Madison Intermediate
(732) 452-2960 x34003
Mrs. Erin Bennett
James Monroe
(732) 452-2970 x62003
Ms. Melanie Nunziata
Martin Luther King
(732) 452-2980 x66003
Melanie.nunziata@edison.k12.nj.us
Ms. Jessica Kole
Benjamin Franklin
(732) 650-5302 x60003
Mrs. Lora Scammacca
Washington
(732) 650-5280x68006
Lora.scammacca@edison.k12.nj.us
Mr. Rob Monteleone
Lindeneau
(732) 650-5320 x65007
Robert.monteleone@edison.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Kimberly Romero
Woodbrook
(732) 452-2901x69010
Kimberly.romero@edison.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Lia Carde
Menlo Park
(732) 452-2910 x67012
Mr. Kenneth Slusser
Lincoln
(732) 650-5270 x64003
Kenneth.slusser@edison.k12.nj.us
Ms. Jessica Rodriguez
John Marshall
(732) 650-5370 x63003