The document describes two situations between friends told from different points of view. In the first, one girl is angry that her friend did not return her book as promised. In the second, a girl is upset that her best friend did not check on her after she spent the night in the hospital. Both girls feel hurt by the other's actions but do not know the full story. The document advises that to resolve conflicts, it is important to see the situation from the other person's perspective and communicate calmly to find a mutual understanding and solution.

1. Seeing
Another
Point
of
View

2. Seeing another point
of view….
• Know that people don’t always
see things in the same way.
• See things from someone else’s
point of view.

3. I am really fed up with my friend .... She
borrowed my new book. She promised she
would bring it to my house after school today.
After school I waited for ages for her to
come, but she obviously couldn’t be bothered.
I rang my friend and told her what I thought
of her. Would you believe it, instead of saying
sorry she started making stupid
excuses – so I just put the phone down on
her.
• Is it OK for her to feel so cross?
• Is what she did right?
• Should she carry on being friends or break
friends with this girl?

4. Hi, I’m really sad at the moment. Last night I fell
off my skateboard and really hurt my head – I
had to go to the hospital and they kept me in all
night. I was so lonely, I wanted to ring my best
friend, because I felt so sad, but I wasn’t
allowed.
What’s worse is my best friend just rang up – I
was so pleased because I couldn’t wait to tell her
all about it, but guess what – before I could even
tell her what had happened she started shouting
at me about something I was supposed to have
given her back – well how could I if I was in
hospital? I don’t think she’s going to be my best
friend any more – she slammed the phone down
and didn’t even ask how I was.
How does this girl feel?
• Is it OK for her to feel like this?
• What should she do?

5. Both the girls are actually telling the same
story but from their own points of view.
Neither of them knew the whole story.
When there is an argument or ‘conflict’,
one of the most important things you need
to do is to find out what the situation was
like from the other person’s point of view.
Do this when you are feeling calm.

6. To do this both girls need to
talk to each other and use
good listening skills.
• Sitting or standing still
• Looking the other person
• Showing that they are interested and understand

7. How do you think the
girl felt when her
friend put the phone How do you
down on her? think the girl
felt when her
friend didn’t
turn up with
Why do you think the book?
they felt that way?
What could the
girls have done
Does it change the differently?
way they really think
about each other?

8. Remember!
When you fall out with someone it
is always important to talk.
Try to see the situation from
someone else’s point of view.

9. Making up ...
To make friends after falling out try:-
•saying sorry (be brave, this can be
difficult)
•offering a token, (a ‘peace offering’)
•asking if the person would like to play a
game
•touching little fingers or using a secret
signal or gesture
•saying a special rhyme (e.g. ‘Make
friends, make friends, never, never break
friends’).

10. Use Ready, Steady, Go!
Ready
Both ‘sides’ should be calm – it’s never any
good trying to make up when you are angry.
Steady
Take it in turns to say what you are feeling
and why; and what you would like to happen.
Listen well – don’t interrupt.
Go
Pick a solution that everyone is happy with.

11. If the girls had talked while
they were still very angry
with each other, do you think
they would have managed to
listen to each other and
solve the problem?
To keep friends,
we need to make
sure that we
don’t let our
angry feelings
get the better
of us.