Program shows kids how to make, be and keep friends

Blazing Prairie Stars, a therapy barn in Maple Park, offers a program that will give those children who struggle a leg up in their relations with peers and adults. It is called Friendship Connection.

Friendship skills can be learned through practice and reinforcement, and the Friendship Connection groups do just that. Therapists and horse professionals at Blazing Prairie Stars have designed an array of activities and games with horses that create learning opportunities for the children in Friendship Connection. The children practice and reinforce skills, develop confidence, and attain a better understanding of interpersonal relationships.

One of the activities, for example, gives participants an exercise in learning to trust and to work as a team. Three youngsters are asked hold hands to form a line. The center individual does not have the use of his hands, but can tell the others what to do. The two children on the sides each have the use of one hand, but they cannot move until the center child tells them what to do. The team is then asked to halter a horse, a simple task, but one that calls for cooperation from all three team members.

Being able to develop and maintain positive relationships with family, peers and trustworthy adults is a strong predictor of a child's future success. In addition, friends are a vital part of a full and satisfying life. Friendship Connection helps show children the skills needed to make a friend, to be a friend and to keep a friend.

Friendship Connection participants are grouped by age, gender and skill level. The program is open to children ages 6 to 14. It's now accepting applications for summer sessions. Call Blazing Prairie Stars at (630) 365-5550. Financial assistance may be available.