Teaching Kids the Value of Loyalty in Friendships

Every parent desires to raise a kind and loyal individual as they grow old. While kindness and empathy are the qualities that steal all the spotlight, loyalty in friendships is another important aspect. Loyalty in friendships keeps relationships strong, despite misunderstandings, peer pressure, and those little playground squabbles.

But the question is—how do you exactly teach your child the value of loyalty in friendships?

It’s not as simple as turning to them and saying, ‘Be loyal, kid!’ Rather, you've got to put in efforts and lead by example, along with consistent guidance throughout their journey. Most of all, loyalty is not only about sticking and holding together; it is also about the approach that keeps everyone around happy.

Read this article to learn how you can teach your little ones the value of loyalty in friendships.

Loyalty is the bedrock of any lasting relationship. In simple words, it is the understanding that no matter what, true friends stick together. 

According to research, loyal friendships significantly impact a child's emotional well-being and self-esteem. Moreover, the American Psychological Association stated that children who feel supported by friends are likely to have higher levels of happiness and lower levels of anxiety. 

Of course, you would want that for your child?

What’s more? There is an endless list of reasons for loyalty in almost every relationship. 

Children with close friends are 50% less likely to report feelings of isolation during their adolescent years, according to the National Institutes of Health. To add, just the sense of security that comes with knowing that a friend "has your back" can help children deal with the tricky landscape better.

From modeling loyal behavior in your own relationships to teaching your kids to be a safe space for others, here are some effective ways you can teach them the importance of loyalty.

Since kids are natural observers, and they learn a lot just by watching. So, whether you’re talking about your best friend when they're not around or how you stand up for a coworker in a sticky situation, your child is always taking mental notes. This is your opportunity to show them what loyalty looks like in action by sticking to your word and being there for the people in your life when they need you.

Disagreements are normal. Even loyalty does not mean that there will be no disagreements. In fact, true loyalty shines in adverse situations. The key aspect here is to teach your little one that even if they disagree with a friend, it is essential to resolve conflicts respectfully. Loyalty means not throwing away a friendship over one argument but rather working on finding ways to resolve issues and build stronger bonds with his friends.

The simplest way to teach loyalty is to make your child know the importance of keeping promises. Loyalty is more about being reliable and trustworthy. If your child promises a friend they’ll meet up to play, let them know keeping their promise is a way of showing loyalty. Overall, when kids consistently keep their word, they build trust, and loyalty ultimately follows.

As parents, watching your kids make lasting friendships is another reason for joy. It’s time to celebrate those friendships of your kids that have lasted through thick and thin. Let your child know how wonderful it is to have someone in their life they can truly count on. From a small get-together or just a high-five address when they've been there for a friend or when a friend has shown loyalty to them.

The value of loyalty is not a one-time lesson but something that grows and develops with each moment they have. Let your child grow into a safe space for their friends; while it may be abstract, children easily understand the idea of being there without judgement—not just physical presence but emotional presence too. The next time your kid returns from school and tells you about an incident when they helped a classmate, take a moment to remind them how loyalty played an important part.