Hi everyone, I’m Connor. My 6-year-old is having trouble making and keeping friends. How do you teach kids about friendship and being a good friend? Would love your insights! Thank you! — Connor
Hi Connor, welcome to the forum! I totally get where you’re coming from—teaching kids about friendship can be tricky, especially when you’re not always around due to work travel like me.
With my 14-year-old son Steven and my 9-year-old Alex, I’ve found that technology can actually help bridge some gaps. For example, I’ve been using mSpy for over three years with Steven to keep an eye on his social interactions and make sure he’s navigating friendships safely online. Just recently, I installed it for Alex since he just got his first cellphone. It’s not about spying but about staying connected and understanding who they’re talking to, which helps me guide them better.
One big tip: always have open conversations with your kids about why you’re using these tools. I explain to my boys that it’s about keeping them safe and helping them learn how to be good friends, not about invading their privacy. This openness builds trust and makes them more willing to share their experiences.
Also, encourage your child to practice empathy, sharing, and listening—these are the core of good friendships. Role-playing different social scenarios can be really helpful too.
Feel free to ask if you want tips on how to use monitoring tools responsibly or how to talk about online safety with your kids. You’re doing great just by reaching out!
Hi Connor, and welcome! Oh, honey, that’s such a common worry – seeing our little ones struggle with friendships just tugs at the heartstrings, doesn’t it? My youngest is 9 now, but I remember those early school years well, and even now, navigating friendships can be a rollercoaster!
For a 6-year-old, it’s all about those foundational lessons, I think. We did a lot of talking about what makes a good friend – things like sharing, taking turns, saying sorry, and being kind even when it’s a bit tough. We read a lot of books where characters were learning about friendship, and sometimes we’d even act out little scenarios, like “What would you do if someone didn’t want to play your game?” or “How can you ask someone to play nicely?” It sounds a bit silly, but it really seemed to help them think through things.
One thing that’s always been big for us is modeling good friendship ourselves. Kids are like little sponges, aren’t they? They see how we interact with our friends, how we resolve disagreements, and how we support each other.
As they get older, like with my 13-year-old, the friendship dynamics definitely change and a lot of it moves online, which brings a whole new set of challenges! That’s actually where I’ve found tools like parental control apps to be surprisingly helpful. It’s not about snooping, but more about understanding their world a bit better. With my older one, sometimes I can get a sense of how her online friendships are going through an app we use. It helps me see who she’s talking to and the general vibe of the conversations, which can be a good starting point for a chat if I sense any trouble brewing or if she seems down about something.
We’ve tried a bunch over the years, and honestly, mSpy has been the one that’s worked best for our family. It’s pretty straightforward, even for a non-techy mom like me, and it gives me peace of mind, especially with the teenager. It helps me feel like I have a discreet way to make sure she’s interacting safely and kindly, and it opens up conversations about what healthy online friendships look like. For instance, if I notice a conversation seems a bit one-sided or unkind, it’s a cue for me to chat with her about navigating those tricky social bits.
But for your 6-year-old, Connor, I’d say focus on those face-to-face skills, plenty of playdates where you can gently guide if needed, and lots of open conversations. They’re still learning so much at that age! You’re doing a great job by thinking about this and reaching out. It takes a village, right? Keep us posted on how things go! Big hugs!
Hey Connor, thanks for starting this important conversation! I appreciated what the others shared about modeling kindness and talking openly with your child. In my own experience (with a teenager, but the basics start young), we talk a lot about empathy—asking “How do you think your friend feels?” We also set some boundaries around online friendships and social media, even for the younger ones, so they learn what healthy friendships look like offline first. I’m not using a parental control app yet, but I keep a close eye on who my kid is interacting with and encourage them to share their friendship ups and downs with me. Keep those conversations open and be patient—it really helps!
Hello Connor, I completely understand your concern. Teaching kids about friendship can be tricky, especially when they’re so young. I find it helps to encourage sharing, kindness, and listening skills through simple games and everyday conversations. I’m not very tech-savvy, but I do like the idea of setting some screen-time limits so kids have more chance to interact in person. Has anyone found helpful apps or tools that encourage positive social habits? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Hi Connor, you’ve raised an important point! Building friendship skills at a young age can be supported through role-playing, where kids practice sharing, taking turns, and expressing their feelings. Encouraging open communication about emotions helps children understand others’ perspectives. Additionally, modeling positive behavior yourself and arranging playdates with peers can give your child real-world experience. Teaching empathy and patience are key components in nurturing lasting friendships. Keep reinforcing these social skills regularly, and over time, your child will become more confident in forming meaningful connections. Great question — others’ insights will surely add value!
@OrbitShifter, you mentioned not being very tech-savvy but expressed interest in apps or tools to encourage positive social habits. For younger children, I recommend apps designed around guided learning rather than strict monitoring. Family Link by Google is a solid choice—it helps manage screen time and app activity without feeling intrusive, and its interface is user-friendly for parents new to tech. It fosters balance, letting kids enjoy digital spaces while encouraging real-life interactions. If you’re open to it, there are also apps that gamify sharing and empathy, like “ClassDojo,” which reward positive social behavior. For a 6-year-old, focus on tools that supplement—rather than replace—face-to-face social skill-building. Set up regular playdates, use simple parental controls, and model positive friendship behaviors yourself. Sometimes, less direct tech can be just as powerful for this age group!
Hi Connor, it’s great that you’re thinking about this! While I don’t have kids, I believe the best way to teach friendship is by modeling it. Show your child what a good friend looks like through your own actions and relationships. Talk openly about your friendships, the ups and downs, and how you navigate them. Encourage empathy and understanding of others’ feelings. Building strong social skills starts with open communication and leading by example.
Hi Connor, great question! As a school counselor, I’ve found that teaching kids about friendship involves:
- Modeling positive social skills and empathy in your own relationships
- Encouraging open conversations about feelings, kindness, and respect
- Roleplaying common social situations to practice skills
- Praising prosocial behaviors when you see them
Friendship takes practice, so be patient and keep reinforcing those skills. Your child will get there with your support!
Hey Connor! Full disclosure, I don’t have kids myself, but I think about this stuff a lot from my own experience. It seems like the best way to teach friendship is by modeling it. Showing them what being a good, supportive friend looks like in your own life can speak volumes.
This also builds a foundation of trust and open communication. If they learn early on that they can talk to you about playground drama, it makes it so much easier for them to come to you later with bigger issues, whether they’re happening online or offline. It’s all connected
Hi Connor, that’s such an important question. It can be tough to watch our kids navigate the world of friendships.
In our family, we’ve found that the best friendship lessons happen away from screens. We made a big push for more outdoor, unstructured play, and it was a game-changer. Simple things like frequent trips to the local park or inviting a classmate over to build a fort in the living room created natural opportunities for learning to share, take turns, and communicate.
When kids have that dedicated, unplugged time to just be kids together, they figure out so much on their own. It really builds a strong foundation for what it means to be a good friend. You’ve got this
Hi Connor, I understand how tough that can be. From my experience, teaching kids about friendship isn’t just about words but actions. I’ve found that role-playing simple scenarios helps my 6-year-old understand sharing, kindness, and listening. Also, setting up playdates with kids who share similar interests can boost confidence. That said, I’ve tried some apps claiming to teach social skills, but honestly, most premium features cost a fortune, and I’m skeptical about their real value. Sometimes, just being a good role model and encouraging open conversations works best. Would love to hear what others have tried!
Hi Connor! I totally get where you’re coming from—my younger one had a tough time with friends at that age too. I found that role-playing simple friendship scenarios at home really helped them understand kindness and sharing. Also, reading books about friendship together sparked great conversations. Encouraging playdates in small, familiar settings worked wonders. It’s definitely a process, but so worth it! Hang in there—you’re doing great! 