Friends. Patti Kelley Criswell

Friendship Story

       Growing Friends

       Good-Friend Checklist

      Making Friends

      Making a new friend takes time and even a little courage,

      but it’s worth it because good friends are like . . .

      a sunny day. (Friends make life happier.)

      an umbrella in the rain. (Friends make gloomy days more comfy.)

      a pile of autumn leaves. (Friends make everything more fun.)

      Friend Finders

      Sometimes it just takes being in the right place at the right time to find

      a friend. Get involved in activities you enjoy, and you’ll improve your

      chances of meeting someone to enjoy them with.

      Play a sport

      Join the team! Regular practices and

      exciting games and events can lead to

      close friendships. If competitive team

      sports aren’t your thing, consider ice

      skating, tae kwon do, or even fencing.

      Start something

      What are you into? If it’s reading, start a

      book club. If it’s chess, start a chess club.

      If it’s dance, start a dance club. Try to get

      girls together who like the same thing,

      and it’s almost sure to pay off. Ask your

      teacher, librarian, or coach to help you

      get something going.

      Just get out of the house!

      Watch for opportunities to get together

      with girls in your community, neighbor-

      hood, church, or school. Sign up for a 5K

      fun run or bake-sale booth to benefit a

      good cause. Participate in a park cleanup

      or school fund-raiser. Put yourself in situa-

      tions where you can meet people, and

      hey, you just might!

      Take a class

      What have you always wanted to try?

      Swimming? Cooking? Drawing or yoga

      or horseback riding? You’ll be surrounded

      by people to meet, and you’ll learn

      something new!

      Join a club

      In after-school groups such as service

      clubs, scouts, or student council, you’ll

      work on projects together and, chances

      are, find friends, too.

      Conversation

      Starters

      When it comes to making new friends, someone has to start

      the conversation. Here are some good ways to get talking:

      Find something

      in common

      I saw you at the concert.

      Do you like jazz, too?

      Offer to help

      I can show you

      where that

      classroom is.

      Just introduce yourself!

      Hi! I’m Alisha.

      I think we’re in

      the same class.

      Show an interest

      I’ve been wanting to

      read that book.

      Do you like it?

      Give a compliment

      I like your haircut.

      It looks great!

      Share a little

      I moved once, too,

      so I know it’s really

      hard at first.

      Ask an opinion

      What do you think

      of the new soccer

      uniforms?

      Offer an invitation

      Want to sit

      together at lunch?

      I like

      your

      scarf.

      Thanks! I made it.

      Do you know how

      to knit?

      Keep the conversation going!

      Once you’ve had a conversation, don’t let it stop there. Look for chances to talk again.

      The more you talk, the more you’ll get to know if this girl might be a good friend for you.

      No.

      I wish I did,

      though.

      I can teach you.

      Let’s talk at lunch!

      Could someone be

      trying to talk to you?

      You might be thinking so much about

      starting a conversation with one girl that

      you don’t notice another girl trying to

      start a conversation with you. Chances are,

      someone out there wants to get to know

      you better, too!

      When You Feel Shy

      Sometimes walking up to someone you don’t know feels like a big deal.

      It can be really hard. And to make it even harder, shyness can sometimes

      be confusing for other girls who want to get to know you.

      She’s not talking to me.

      Is she just feeling shy? Or does

      that mean she doesn’t want to

      be friends with me?