奇速英语

孩童时期的友谊使人受益一生

I recently attended a birthday party for the 3-year-old daughter of my oldest friend, whom I’ve known since I was a baby. My father was the best man in his father’s wedding. Our lives have taken many turns, but here we are in adulthood with children of the same age, spending much of our time together. It’s wonderful to know that my children will have the same history with his children. Many of my friends are people I have known since childhood, and those bonds have had an important impact on my life.

As a child, I moved at ages 5, 8 and 11. Each time I had to leave behind dear friends who had become a big part of my life. I am lucky that my parents helped nurture those friendships by helping me stay connected and encouraging me to continue these relationships into adulthood.

Recent research shows the importance of friendship, and its impact on mental and physical health. Preschool friendships are helpful in developing social and emotional skills, increasing a sense of belonging and decreasing stress. People who feel lonely tend to be more depressed and have more health problems. Having a great support system can help us deal with those hardships that everyone faces at some point.

Paul Schwartz, a professor of psychology and child behavior expert, has noted many benefits of childhood friendship. “Friendships help the development of social skills, such as understanding others’ opinions and learning the rules of conversation,” Schwartz has written in an article. “More than half of the children referred for emotional behavioral problems have no friends or find difficulty communicating with others."

“Friends also have a powerful influence on a child’s positive and negative school performance and may also help to encourage or discourage their behaviors,” Schwartz continues. “Compared with children who lack friends, children with good friends can deal with life stresses.”