What to say when a friendship falls apart

You don’t need a plan or a script tonight, just a few honest sentences you can say out loud, right when it counts.

Say this tonight

Friendships can bend without breaking. This might just be a bend.
Tell me your side, and I'll really listen.
It's okay if this friendship needs some space right now.

Naming the hurt clearly, without picking a villain, gives a child room to decide what happens next.

The story says the rest

In their story, both sides of the falling-out get a fair hearing, and the character names what they feel before deciding what to do about it.

It ends with calm clarity: either the friendship finds its way back, or your child's character feels sure they did their part.

Create their story

Read more: Stories and Empathy: How Fiction Builds Perspective-Taking

We use analytics cookies to understand how the site is used. See our Privacy Policy.