Friendship is Magic: Share your tips for helping children build lasting friendships with the My Little Pony: The Movie - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

To help celebrate the brand new My Little Pony movie, the team behind the film would love to champion the beauty of friendship - and learn about the tips you have for helping children build lasting friendships with their school mates, neighbours and pals from clubs etc.

Do you gently suggest ways of making and keeping friends, encourage play dates to deepen friendships, or have other ways to guide them through the sometimes tricky path of childhood friends?

Here’s the movie synopsis

“A dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 - Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity - embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home.

The film has an all-star voice cast including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana. The movie features original music and songs performed by Sia, Diggs, Saldana, Chenoweth and Blunt."

Rated U

Add your comment to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £300 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions Apply

I encourage them to be kind and we always talk about their day when they get home from school, which often involves little squabbles they have had with their friends so I try to get them to see it from their friends point of view so that they can go into school the next day not so upset.

To encourage them to be themselves .

I often find that leaving them to it works, they naturally build friendships if you just facilitate them meeting other children for example by going on play dates, taking them to nursey or other social events with other children.

Being kind helps. I've always taught mine to think about others and treat others how you want them to treat you.

Children learn from their parents, if you have a good network of close family and friends it will usually be instilled into your children and they will hopefully follow suit.

I agree with the sentiment that if the parents see eye to eye then there is more chance they will make the effort to get on well together. I am not sure whether that is a definitive answer or just my opinion

I try to build friendships with his friends' parents because it helps the kid's friendships to survive long term.

Join groups early - playgroup - brownies etc., I formed firm friends through these to marriage and beyond

I have tried to be a teacher of life, morals and respect, the one thing that i focused on was accepting others as they are, not trying to be bossy, and to learn to be forgiving when there are mistakes made or indeed conflict, and to teach them that we all hurt others when we dont mean to and the importance of friendships is to allow for that and also to expect arguments as a normal part of friendship!

Have an open door policy and be happy that other kids are in the house.
Say yes to as many invitations as possible. Keep inviting other kids to stuff. Make the effort (e.g. driving a long way to meet friends).

My son and daughter who are both over 16 have friends they have grown up with and started nursery with I have always encouraged play dates and sleep overs and they have really close group friends who they can always rely on - they are all like extended family

It's a bit different nowadays - friendships were made during extended playtimes when the streets and suburbs were safer and the population was less paranoid. Daytime programmes and ladies' magazines filled with hand-wringing what-if situations aren't helping one little bit.

My daughter has never had an issue with making friends but I always encourage her to be nice to everyone in school, even if its not someone she normally plays with. She always has play dates with friends from school

Children will pick their friends at school, but to help this you can have play dates after school or at the weekends!

I tell the kids to smile at others and go up to other kids and start a conversation.

we just get our little chap to mi with as many children as possible, and to be kind, a true friendship will happen naturally and last, other friends will just be casual acquaintances, but a true best friend will happen sooner or later.

We tell our lg that it's always important to be kind to everyone and remind her to treat people how she would want them to treat her, easier said than done at times but she's getting the hang of taking other people's feelings into consideration

Don't micro manage them, let them work through issues themselves, always show kindness, and it's healthier to have a number of good friends than one intense friendship.

Play dates rather than parties because they don't focus on one child - the birthday boy/girl.

Regular meet ups during the nursery holidays really helped my DD feel more confident and helped keep the friendship between her and a group of kids who were all going to school together, us mums arranged a little pre school party a few days before their first day at school to help them be together and not feel as nervous.

I think a great tip to making and keeping friends is to teach our kids respect. Teach them that everyone is different and that's ok. When kids respect eachother and are kind, friendships blossom.

Play dates and encouraging them to spend time with their cousins and other family members

we have play dates and after school activities and always tell them to act kindly and to always include anyone that seems a little shy and not to leave anyone out.

Important for the child to recognise her/his own intrinsic worth and to be kind to others without being too naive. Being able to say sorry when appropriate is always good as is accepting others' apologies when they offend or "get it wrong". Remember - friends are not you; they will see the same world as you, but interpret it differently!

My children both have strong personalities and tend to lead in their friendship groups at school but I do tell them to listen to what their friends want to do aswell.

They both have good friendship groups in school but their strongest friendships, and the ones I believe will last, are the friendships they have made in the sports clubs they attend as they have a shared interest of sport.