This week my focus is on the use of the word “friend” in our classrooms.. It has taken over as a general term used when referring to the children. 

A few teachers decided to embrace looking at how the word is used, when it is used and if it is ever explained or used appropriately with young children.

How confused our children must be about what “friend” means. We say things like, “good morning, friend”, “I’d like my friends to clean up now”, “we don’t hit our friends”, “be kind to your friend”…..etc.  We do not explain the word “friend” or identify who we are actually talking about. I can picture little minds wondering who this “friend” is!

During our research we found the word is way overused and never explained. I know one teacher that still believes that children are her friends.  She does not want to give up “please, don’t hurt my friends”.  I wonder, are we really friends with a toddler? Is this the definition of a friend? 

Do any of us want to be told who are friends are or asked to be friends with someone that has hurt us or that we don’t like? I am suggesting that we all be kind but we don’t need to be friends!

Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to use children’s names?