A Note for Adults
Your role in this activity is to support the young person as they explore what matters to them in a regular friendship. This is their space to think, choose, and reflect.
Please avoid telling them which qualities they “should” pick or judging the choices they make. Instead, try to:
- Listen with curiosity and give them time to explain why each quality is important to them.
- Ask open, gentle questions that help them think more deeply about their choices.
- Offer possibilities — not directions — by exploring whether there are any qualities they hadn’t considered yet.
- Create a calm, respectful atmosphere where they feel safe to express their own thoughts and experiences. Your presence helps them feel heard, valued, and supported as they learn more about themselves and the friendships they want to build.
Optional extra stage. A Romantic Relationship
Invite the young person to consider a romantic relationship. They can choose 3 more qualities. If they want to, they could take out some from their current Friendship Tree and replace them with 3 new ones. Or they can just select 3 they would add to their tree. The hoped for outcome is a recognition that good romantic relationships are still based on the core qualities of a good friendship.
Extra spaces have now been added to the tree