Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships are With People Who Are:

Kind
Caring
There to listen to you
Comfortable to be around
Respectful
Safe
Supportive

Healthy relationships can be with friends, family, or any adult in your life.

What Does It Mean to Be a Good Friend?

A good friend is:

Kind
Caring
Someone who listens to you
Comfortable to be around
Respectful
Safe
Encouraging
Fun

Sounds a lot like a healthy relationship doesn’t it?

Healthy relationships are not just with others. They are with you, too! You can be a good friend to yourself by being kind, encouraging, and nice like you would be to a friend.

In a healthy relationship, you have safe secrets and safe touches.

Safe Secrets are something fun! Like a surprise. They do not make you feel upset or sad.

Safe Touches are fun, comfortable, and caring. They are respectful to you and your space, like a high five or a hug.

Consent is asking if something is okay to do, like “Can I give you a hug?”. The person can say no if they want to and that is okay! You are also allowed to say no to any unwanted touching, and that is okay, too!

If someone asks you to do something that is unsafe or uncomfortable, you can say “No,” “Stop,” or “I don’t want to. These are your personal safety rules.

Body Boundary Rules: no one should look at, touch, or take pictures of your body without your permission (Permission means that you are saying yes).

Unhealthy Relationships

Relationships are not always healthy. When they are not, that is when we ask for help!

Unhealthy Relationships Are With People Who Make You Feel:

Unsafe
Uncomfortable
Hurt
Not listened to
Scared

If you have someone who makes you feel like this, tell someone. It is important to get help!

In an unhealthy relationship, there are unsafe touches and unsafe secrets.

Unsafe Touches feel strange, uncomfortable, confusing, or yucky. They could be from someone you know or someone you do not know.

Unsafe Secrets are not fun. They feel uncomfortable or scary. They can be about hurting you or someone else. The other person tells you not to tell your parents or a trusted adult and that if you do tell something bad will happen.

Tell a trusted adult if you have any unsafe secrets or touches.

Further Resources

23 Must-Read Anti-Bullying Books for Kids – WeAreTeachers

101 Social Skills Books for Kids: Friendship, Communication Skills & More (childhood101.com)

30 Books about Cooperation and Relationship Skills (childrenslibrarylady.com)

5 Books to Teach Kids about Healthy Physical Boundaries (clevelandrapecrisis.org)

If you would like to speak to someone about mental health issues, the Alberta Health Services Mental Health Help Line is available 24/7, offering information and referrals on any aspect of mental health.

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

Healthy Relationships