Being a dependable friend
Include people, offer useful support, and know your limits.
Skill 6.5 · About 25 minutes to begin
Belonging often starts with a small invitation. Notice who is left without a partner, who needs a clear explanation, and who might appreciate someone checking in.
Before you begin
Bring along
- Fictional scenario cards
- Practice partner
Support & boundaries
Use fictional situations and choose what you share. You may pass or speak privately with a trusted adult. Unsafe behavior or a serious concern needs adult support.
01 / Learn
Understand the skill
- Support begins with asking what would help instead of making assumptions.
- You can care about someone without being available every minute or solving every problem.
- Serious concerns about safety belong with a trusted adult; do not promise to keep danger secret.
02 / Practice
Try it, step by step
- 1
Invite someone to join a task or conversation without pressuring them.
- 2
Ask an open question and listen to their answer.
- 3
Offer one specific form of help, such as explaining the packing list or working together on cleanup.
- 4
Respect a declined invitation and keep the door open for another time.
- 5
If you are worried about someone's safety, tell a trusted adult promptly and get emergency help for immediate danger.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keep asking until they agree.
- Treating a successful practice attempt as permission to skip the supervision or checks for a real task.
Your call
Someone declines your invitation to join a game. What next?
03 / Demonstrate
Show what you can do
Use these prompts with a mentor. This practice checklist resets when you leave; record your overall stage below in the signed-in manual.
0 of 3 reviewed together
Mentor notes & sources
Help someone learn
- Use changing pairs and meaningful roles so the same people are not always excluded.
- Make accommodations normal and ask privately what support is useful.
Start together, then let the learner take responsibility at an appropriate level. Offer a shorter task, a different role, or more practice time when useful. Review the demonstration criteria together; advanced practice never removes supervision requirements.
Reference shelf
Original program lessons informed by these references. Equipment manuals, current local rules, and qualified instruction govern technical practice.
- Search Institute: developmental relationships ↗
Care, support, challenge and youth agency
Edition updated 2026-09-28. Program learning material; not a professional qualification.
04 / Apply · In Action
Make room for someone
At an approved group activity, offer an inclusive invitation and one specific form of help without pressuring anyone.
What success looks like
Describe your approach to a mentor without sharing the other person's private information.
Talk it through
How did you leave the other person free to choose?
05 / Teach · Take it further
Design a group task with useful roles for different strengths and access needs.