Friendship: Good For Everything

Friendship has been noted to be a pivotal part of the human experience. Despite the importance of friendships, the vast literature regarding relationships has focused primarily on romantic relationships and what is needed to develop and sustain these interactions. While these stories may benefit individuals old enough to understand and pursue romance, children are often inundated with images of romance and romantic love long before they are mature enough to put them into context.

There is no denying that love - including romantic love - is an important component of most peoples’ lives. However, recognizing the importance of friendship to the health and wellbeing of the individual is worth exploring as research consistently shows that people of all ages report higher levels of satisfaction if they have three or more friends. Putting an emphasis on friendship helps children understand that romantic relationships should not hold priority over establishing meaningful platonic relationships; rather, that life is long and there is time enough to find romantic love while building deep and lasting friendships with others.

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