Learning Objectives
• Recognize the value of friendship and the importance of expressing appreciation.
• Develop empathy and gratitude towards friends.
• Practice communication skills and cooperation in making and exchanging friendship bracelets.
Instructions
- Provide each participant with materials to make friendship bracelets, such as colourful threads or beads.
- Instruct the children to make a bracelet for someone in the group, incorporating their favourite colours or patterns. Make sure to assign who is giving to whom so we make sure everyone on the group receives one bracelet! If they are friends, they can write down something about their friendship, if they are new to each other tell them to write a fun fact they want to share to make a new friend.
- Encourage them to write a short note or message to accompany the bracelet, expressing appreciation for their friend.
- After completing their bracelets, have the children exchange them with their chosen friends.
- Since this is an activity design for all age groups, encourage older participants to reflect on the qualities they value in their friendships and how they can strengthen their connections with others.
Debrief
- Gather the participants together after the bracelet exchange.
- Reflect on their experiences and achievements during the activity.
- Guide the conversation towards the concept of friendship and appreciation by asking questions such as:
- How did it feel to make a friendship bracelet for your friend?
- What qualities or memories did you try to capture in the bracelet you made?
- How did receiving a friendship bracelet make you feel?
- Encourage participants to share their favourite moments and discoveries from the exchange.
- Use the opportunity to reinforce the importance of expressing gratitude and kindness in friendships.
Materials
- Colourful threads or beads
- Scissors
- Optional: small cards or notes for writing messages
