What’s a Friendship Fire? How Kid-Friendly Language can Support Students in Developing Healthy Friendships.

What’s a Friendship Fire? How Kid-Friendly Language can Support Students in Developing Healthy Friendships.

What’s a Friendship Fire? How Kid-Friendly Language can Support Students in Developing Healthy Friendships. (#126)

Dana Kerford ¹ , Tyson Greenwood ²

URSTRONG, Noosa Heads, QUEENSLAND, Australia
Trinity College, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Explicitly teaching children how to develop healthy friendships and manage conflict in a positive way is at the heart of helping them flourish (Durlak et al., 2011).[i] These important social skills are the key to belonging and connection, boosting our wellbeing more than any other positive emotion (Fredrickson, 2013).[ii]

Similar to the importance of emotional literacy (David, 2016)[iii] and wellbeing literacy (Oades et al., 2021)[iv], friendship literacy must be considered. Words matter.

In this presentation, Dana & Tyson will teach educators, clinicians, and parents a unique, kid-friendly ‘language of friendship’ being used in schools around the world to support children in developing healthy friendships (URSTRONG, 2022)^[v]. Educators will learn more effective alternatives to the word “bullying” and a simple strategy for empowering children to resolve conflict.

Using a fun, ‘real life’ approach, participants will leave with practical, universal relationship strategies to improve the social climate in their classrooms, communities, in their own relationships as well.

[i] Durlak et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82, 405-432. https://casel.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/impact-enhancing-students-social-emotional-learning-meta-analysis-school-based-universal-interventions.pdf
[ii] Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Love 2.0: Finding happiness and health in moments of connection. Penguin.
[iii] David, S. (2016). Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life. New York: Avery/Penguin Random House.
[iv] Oades LG, Jarden A, Hou H, Ozturk C, Williams P, R. Slemp G, Huang L. Wellbeing Literacy: A Capability Model for Wellbeing Science and Practice. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(2):719. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020719
[v] URSTRONG (2022). Evidence-base for URSTRONG. https://urstrong.com/faqs/what-is-the-evidence-base-for-urstrong/

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Authors contributing to this presentation.

Kerford, D

Dana Kerford is a Teacher, Friendship Expert, and the Founder of URSTRONG. After starting her career as a 4th grade teacher in Canada, Dana began to recognize the complexity and intensity of childhood friendships. Motivated to create cultures of kindness in schools, Dana launched a first-of-its-kind friendship curriculum, Friendology 101, in 2009. Since then, URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools globally, connecting over 1 million kids, parents, & teachers with a common language of friendship. As the go-to expert on childhood friendships in Australia and worldwide, Dana is regularly interviewed by media to provide advice and quotes. In the USA, this includes the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Huffington Post, and Livestrong. In Australia, this includes the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, Sunrise, Today Show, Harper’s Bazaar, among others. URSTRONG’s ground-breaking approach in empowering kids with friendship skills, led to Dana & Michael’s (CEO) participation in an exclusive conference on gender equality at The White House in Washington, DC in 2016. She has presented at education conferences across North America, Australia, & Asia and is SnapChat’s Friendship Expert in Australia, as a key contributor to their Global Friendship Reports. Dana is Mom to Reggie & Ruby, a true Teacher-At-Heart, and is passionate about empowering children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to develop healthier relationships.

Greenwood, T

Tyson Greenwood has been a teacher for nearly 2 decades. Beginning as a classroom teacher, his desire to connect with others helped him develop his strength for relationship-building. Tyson was appointed as Head of Wellbeing at Trinity College in Gawler, South Australia, where he developed and implemented wellbeing initiatives across 4 campuses – including URSTRONG’s Friendology 101 curriculum. With a Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing + a passion to build the physical and mental wellbeing of children, Tyson has led staff, parents, and students in Positive Education. As the Director of URSTRONG Schools, Tyson has supported hundreds schools across Australia in implementing URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy. With his expertise & experience teaching countless wellbeing programs, Tyson helps schools align and embed Friendology 101. Tyson is a dynamic, engaging presenter (with the strength of humour!) who is passionate about empowering kids with friendship skills. When he is not at work, he can be found at the gym, playing guitar, or poorly attempting Kite Boarding.

What’s a Friendship Fire? How Kid-Friendly Language can Support Students in Developing Healthy Friendships. (#126)

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