Technically, February 11th is “Make a Friend Day”, but in reality any day is a great day to make a new friend! There is limited information on who had the friendly
idea to create this celebration. However, the idea is a welcome relief from the
isolation and loneliness that some individuals experience nearly every day of
their existence without a core group of friends. Positive friendship groups can
assist in putting an end to bullying. Friends show kindness and support when
negative remarks are made by reassuring the bullied child they are in their
corner. Children of all ages experience
bullying on a daily basis. Some children
feel they do not have any friends or adults to turn to when they are bullied.
Many students would rather miss a day from school than face the repeated
intimidation and harassment that bullies.
I think that “Make a Friend Day” should be observed in
schools across the nation complete with special fun-filled activities that emphasize
the importance of friendship. People of
all ages can benefit from making new friends.
Instead of talking casually with your normal group of friends, try
something different. One way to make a friend is to spend time
during your lunch talking with someone you do not know and is not your friend.
Reaching out to a schoolmate
that you do not know can build bonds across different social and cultural
groups. Just imagine how exciting it
would be for a bullied classmate to experience the kindness and joy of
friendship. Participating in a “Make a
Friend Day” celebration can become the start of a regularly scheduled
event. Friends provide positive support to
those who are bullied. Focusing on new friendships is a way to enable everyone
to experience what it is like to fit in with the “popular” kids. Friends value each other and give support
during good times and bad. Encourage all
students to make new friends and bring an end to bullying.
As children mature into adolescence and the teenage years,
friends become increasingly important in their life. Adolescence is the time
that children seek independence from parents and rely upon the opinions and
approval of friends. It is crucial for
your child to form positive, trustworthy friendships that will support him
during hard times and celebrate his success.
Parents should take time to know and understand their children’s
friends. Forming positive friendships is a great way to bring an end to
bullying. Why limit “Make a Friend Day” to only once a year? Making new friends is a wonderful way to show
kindness and courtesy and help bring about an end to bullying.
