This document discusses healthy relationships and is presented in two parts. It begins by establishing ground rules for the discussion and defines what a healthy relationship is. A healthy relationship makes both people happy and feel good about themselves. It explores how media can influence views of relationships through stereotypes. The key aspects of a healthy relationship are mutual care, respect, honesty, trust and enjoying each other's company. Unhealthy relationships make people feel bad or uncertain. The document provides tips for starting positive friendships like finding shared interests.

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.