Developing and Maintaining Friendships

Help children understand what it means to be a Christlike friend and how to build friendships.

Play a game to demonstrate one way we can show love to our friends.

Ask each child to decorate a piece of paper with their name on it. Then
randomly place the papers throughout the room. Place a pen or pencil next
to each paper.
Play music while the children walk or run around the room. When the music
stops, have them run to the nearest paper and write or draw something positive about the person named on the paper. After the children have written or drawn nice things about several friends, stop the game and share the comments.
Service idea: Invite the children to identify someone in their age group who does not come to activities often. Talk about ways the children could reach out in friendly ways to include that child, such as writing a kind note, dropping off a treat, or personally inviting them to the next activity.

How was Jesus a good friend to others? How can we follow His example? What are some ways you can serve your friends?