Friendship is one of the biggest challenges girls face in the tween and early teen years. From misunderstandings to exclusion to shifting friend groups, many girls feel overwhelmed by social dynamics they do not yet have the tools to navigate. As a result, educators and youth leaders are often left trying to support girls through sticky situations while wishing they had a structured way to teach the skills that actually help.

A friendship workshop offers girls a safe, supportive space to learn how to build healthy relationships, communicate with confidence, and stay grounded during conflict. But running a meaningful workshop requires a clear plan, thoughtful activities, and tools that meet girls where they are.

Here is a simple, practical guide to running a drama free friendship workshop that is impactful, supportive, and easy to deliver.

1. Begin With a Safe and Welcoming Space

Girls open up when they feel safe. Start your workshop by:

• explaining the purpose of the session
• inviting everyone to participate at their own comfort level
• establishing group agreements
• setting a positive, inclusive tone

Safety and trust create the foundation for honest conversations.

2. Use Real Life Scenarios to Make the Workshop Relatable

Girls learn best through experiences that mirror their daily lives. Use scenarios that reflect common challenges, such as:

• feeling left out
• dealing with gossip
• misunderstandings
• friend breakups
• jealousy
• shifting friend groups

These scenarios open the door to meaningful discussions and problem solving.

3. Teach Practical Friendship Skills

A great workshop focuses on skills, not lectures. Some of the most important skills include:

• emotional awareness
• communication
• boundaries
• conflict repair
• inclusion
• self worth
• empathy

Teaching these skills helps girls understand how to create friendships that feel safe and supportive.

4. Build in Activities That Encourage Honest Sharing

Girls often carry friendship worries quietly. Activities like:

• partner chats
• guided journaling
• values mapping
• group discussions

give girls a chance to express feelings they might not share elsewhere. This helps them feel seen and understood.

5. Teach Girls How to Recognize Healthy and Unhealthy Friendships

Many girls stay in unhealthy friendships because they do not know how to identify red flags. Help them explore qualities like:

• kindness versus manipulation
• mutual respect versus one sided effort
• encouragement versus competition
• honesty versus gossip

When girls can recognize these patterns, they make better friendship choices.

6. Include Tools for Emotional Regulation

Friendship challenges often trigger big emotions. Give girls tools such as:

• grounding techniques
• deep breathing
• simple reflection questions
• strategies to pause before reacting

These help girls respond with clarity instead of getting swept up in drama.

7. End Each Session With a Practical Takeaway

Girls should leave with something they can use right away. Examples include:

• scripts for communicating feelings
• confidence statements
• boundary phrases
• kindness challenges
• reflection prompts

These tools make the workshop action oriented and memorable.

Want a Done For You Friendship Workshop You Can Start Using Right Away?

Planning a full friendship workshop takes time, creativity, and structure. If you want to run a powerful program without spending hours preparing, the Real Friends, Real You Workshop Kit gives you everything you need.

Inside the kit you will find:

• a full four part workshop series
• step by step facilitator guidance
• ready to use activities
• beautifully designed worksheets
• communication scripts
• boundary setting practice
• emotional regulation tools
• reflection and journaling pages
• partner and group activities
• discussion prompts
• friendship values work
• a complete session structure

This kit is perfect for:

• schools
• after school programs
• youth groups
• mentoring circles
• community workshops
• girls clubs
• retreats and special events

It helps you teach girls how to navigate friendships with confidence, kindness, and emotional strength.

You can explore and download the Real Friends, Real You Workshop Kit instantly here.