healthy relationship

1. Healthy Relationships
(Part 1 of 2)
Grade 8

2. Ground Rules
 Giggling is OK
 No names or specific examples of peers will be used in
discussions.
 Respect what others say
 Understand others’ feelings
 Discuss relationship topics responsibly outside the
classroom
 There are no dumb questions

3. What is a healthy relationship?
Throughout our lives, we are involved in many different
kinds of relationships. These include:
•Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends,
teachers and classmates
Healthy relationships can make us happier and add to our
feelings of self-worth.
Throughout this presentation we will explore what affects
online and offline relationships. We will be going back and
forth between talking about online relationships and offline
relationships.*
From: MLHU Healthy Relationships Webpage

4. Healthy Relationships
Start With Yourself
 When you are happy with yourself and
confident, others will be drawn to you
 We all have talents, strengths and parts
of our personality that are great
 We all have things we want to work on
– no one is perfect

5. Healthy Relationships
Start With Yourself
 It’s good to see yourself in a positive
way
 Thinking negatively about yourself can
make you feel upset.

6. Write three words that people could use
to describe you in a positive way
Examples: trustworthy, honest, self-
reliant, kind
My favourite pastime when school is
over is to
_______________________________.
Looking at Myself Activity

7. Media’s Influence
 Let’s talk about the ways the media*
can affect the way we:
• Think about ourselves/others
• Feel about ourselves/others
• Act around others

8. Stereotypes
Let’s look further into some of the ways media
affects our views on relationships.
Do you think:
•Girls only like guys who are the life of the
party?
•Guys only like girls who are flirty?
•To fit in you have to have a girlfriend or
boyfriend?
Adapted from: OPHEA Healthy and Physical Education – Grade 7

9. Stereotypes Continued
 Do only popular people have lots of friends
on social media?
 Are there differences between “online friends”
and “offline friends”?
 People who have lots of posts online are
popular
Adapted from: OPHEA Healthy and Physical Education – Grade 7

10. Healthy Relationships
In a healthy relationship:
Both people want to be in the relationship
Both people feel good (brings out the best in
each other)
Each partner helps the other partner out when
they need it
Both people are comfortable being themselves
Each partner brings out the positives in the other
(talents, strengths) to be a better person

11. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
People in Healthy Relationships:
Talk with each other easily
Trust each other
Respect each other
Are honest
Laugh together
Accept differences
Share similar interests
Are able to respectfully work through disagreements

12. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
What else makes a healthy relationship?
Can you think of more examples of what
makes a healthy relationship?
What would be an example of an unhealthy
relationship?
What is important to you in a relationship?
What are some ways people can show
these qualities in a relationship?

13. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
 If you have feelings of uncertainty, doubt,
or fear about a relationship, it is important
to recognize and act on these feelings
 Don’t force yourself to be in a relationship
you don’t want to be in

14. How Could You Start a Positive
Friendship or Relationship?
 Showing the other person that you are
interested in getting to know them (e.g.
smiling, laughing, listening to them)
 Talk about interests and find what things
you have in common (e.g. likes playing
soccer, starting to play an instrument,
interested in the same type of music)
Adapted from: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213

15. How Could You Start a Positive
Friendship or Relationship? Cont’d
 If you share common interests and like each others’ company
then you could get to know each other better by:
• Hanging out together
• Texting or talking on the phone
• Connecting on social media*
• Can you think of any more?
As relationships progress, people become more
comfortable with expressing themselves and not being
afraid of judgement
Adapted from: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213

16. Wrapping Up
Remember:
A healthy relationship starts with how you feel about
yourself.
Be aware of how media messages can affect how you
feel about yourself and your relationships is important.
Be true to yourself and keep people in your life who
make you feel good.
If you are having concerns about a friendship or
relationship talk to someone you trust.