Bost CARES staff, Kristin Wagner, LPC and Pablo Albuja, LAC recently spoke with kindergartners, first graders and second graders at Tate Elementary School in Van Buren about how to make friends. Students learned about different types of friends they may have in their lives (acquaintances, friends and best friends) and how they should interact with each. Students also learned how to initiate new friendships and include others to create positive peer interactions.

Tate Elementary is aimed at being a trauma-informed school by recognizing and responding to the behavioral, emotional, relational, and academic impact of traumatic stress on those within the school.

Addressing social issues within the school environment helps students learn how to communicate with their peers in a positive manner, work as a team, establish healthy boundaries in relationships, become more aware of the needs of others and ultimately, reduce instances of bullying. Teaching such skills at an early age will help these students as they transition into adolescence and adulthood.