Being the Friend Who Tells the Truth
TARGET:
6-8 years
INTENSITY:
20 min / 2x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Human-Human Co-Intelligence
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Respecting Individual and Shared Rules
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Critical Thinking
MATERIALS
Kind accountability script cards
Peer support scenarios
DETAILED PROCEDURE
This activity works best one-on-one, or with one child at a time within a small group. Explain calmly to the child: "A real friend helps you be your best self - even when that means saying something hard."
Step 1
Distinguish: enabling (going along with wrong behavior) vs. kind accountability (naming it with care).
Step 2
Practice scripts for holding a friend accountable: 'Hey, I noticed... and I care about you, so I wanted to say something.'.
Step 3
Say gently to the child: "The friend who tells you the truth is more valuable than the friend who tells you what you want to hear."
Step 4
Role play: practice and receive peer accountability from both sides.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child uses a kind accountability script appropriately in a role play.
The child receives peer accountability without defensiveness in a role play.
The child distinguishes enabling from supporting.