Is it possible to feel lonely while at a school with hundreds of other people? Yes. Many kids spend much of their time at school alone or keeping to themselves. Sometimes we want to be alone, and that’s okay. But showing our kids the importance of reaching out to others can help someone who doesn’t want to be alone.

A simple “Hello,” “Want to play with us?” or “Come and sit here” can change a person’s entire day and even their entire school year. Teaching kids to watch out for those who may need a friend is an invaluable lesson.

It’s OK to be different

Bullying and exclusion often stem from differences. Teaching our children that it’s okay if someone is different from them will help them throughout their lives. In fact, they might feel different themselves. That’s OK.

Exposure to books about diverse characters, meeting people outside of our own neighborhoods and just simply practicing kindness can help our children to not only be kind to but befriend those who may be different from them. Differences in each other actually make life much more interesting.

Resilience

Many teachers and others who work with children and teens comment about the importance of resilience. Letting kids experience setbacks and helping them find ways to bounce back from these will benefit them throughout their lives.

As parents, we can teach kids that it’s okay if life gets tough and there are ways to feel hopeful, solve problems and always keep trying. Resilience will not only help kids to navigate through the difficulties of school but also through the difficulties of life.

Reach out for help

Sometimes we, as adults, assume the kids in our lives know they can talk to us about anything. However, in truth, they often don’t know where to turn when they are struggling. They may feel embarrassed or afraid or they may not know how to bring up difficult subjects.

Reassuring kids that they can always talk to us or other trusted adults should happen often. Together with our children, we can come up with lists of trusted adults who they can turn to when they are in need. Whether it be help with schoolwork, depression, disturbing thoughts or stressful things going on in their lives, teaching kids to ask for help is another lesson they can always use.