Competency 4: Build relationships with family, friends and significant adults

What is relationship management?

Relationship management involves showing appreciation and care for others, and the ability to use appropriate strategies to establish and maintain positive relationships, and to manage conflicts.

The NEL Framework outlines the following knowledge, skills and dispositions as part of Competency 4: Build relationships with family, friends and significant adults. 

Why is relationship management important?

Relationship management enables children to build and maintain positive relationships with others according to social norms and culture. Through perspective-taking and understanding the impact and consequences of their actions on others, children also develop empathy.

How might children demonstrate relationship management?

Here are some examples of how children might demonstrate relationship management through their actions, speech and behaviour:

• Demonstrate care and concern for others 

• Using different ways to establish and maintain friendships (e.g., inviting friends to play, initiating conversations, helping others) 

• Playing cooperatively with others (e.g., sharing, taking turns, suggesting actions to resolve differences)

How can you develop relationship management skills in your children?

Try the following strategies to help children develop their relationship management skills.

Read on!

Resources

• Printable: The 5 Social and Emotional Competencies

• Educators’ Guide for Values, Social and Emotional Competencies and Learning Dispositions

• Explore ideas which showcase social and emotional competencies