Good Qualities for Kids to Look for in a Friend

Sometimes kids choose their friends for the wrong reasons: peer pressure, a desire to be accepted or popular, or essentially by accident, like who sits next to them in homeroom. Help your child make thoughtful choices about who they spend their time with—and help them avoid developing friendships with kids who may end up being bad influences(or worse, hurting them)—by letting them know what qualities they should look for in a friend. Your kids should look for a friend who:

• Is someone they trust.
• Encourages them to succeed and achieve and celebrates their successes (instead of being jealous or negative).
• Is a person of good character (meaning: honest, sincere, loyal, respectful, responsible).
• Resolves conflicts peacefully.
• Has strong, positive relationships with his or her parents and other adults.
• Is serious about school.
• Knows how to make plans and set goals.
• Has a positive view of the future.
• Gets along with many different kinds of people; isn't biased or prejudiced.
• Is kind and compassionate.
• Respects himself or herself.
• Avoids dangerous situations.
• Takes positive risks.
• Gives back to the community and serves others.
• Is a positive influence on others.
• Nobody's perfect, and few people will have all these traits—but the more of these qualities that close friends have, the better for everyone.
  
  From:
  http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-your-kids/parenting/positive-parenting/good_qualities_in_friend.html